FALLON QUITS AS DEFENCE SEC IN SEX STORM
He admits: I have fallen below the high standards we require
MICHAEL Fallon last night became the first casualty of Westminster’s sex pest scandal as he quit the Cabinet.
The Defence Secretary said his conduct fell “below the high standards we require”.
He apologised this week for touching a journalist’s knee. But it is understood more
claims about the minister’s behaviour could emerge. Sir Michael wrote to Theresa May: “Allegations have been made about MPs’ conduct, including my own. Many have been false, but I realise in the past I have fallen below the high standards we require of the Armed Forces. I am therefore resigning.”
And he said last night: “I think we’ve all got to look back now at the past, there are always things you regret, you would have done differently.” The married 65-year-old had repeatedly placed his hand on the knee of journalist Julia Hartley-Brewer in 2002. She said last night: “If this is over that then this is the most insane resignation of a Cabinet minister ever. I’m assuming there are more allegations to come.”
It is understood the PM did not try to talk Sir Michael out of quitting. Tories Damian Green and Mark Garnier are being investigated over sex pest claims. Mrs May has refused to support Mr Green amid allegations he sent a Tory activist inappropriate texts, which he denies.
It came as a former party aide has claimed her drink was spiked with a date rape drug at Parliament’s Strangers’ Bar in March. The woman said she blacked out and added: “I got home but I have no idea how.” The aide called police who found footage of her swaying and crashing into walls as she left Parliament. Officers told her it was “not the first time” they had been alerted to drinks being laced.
Another woman claimed she was sexually assaulted by a Tory MP she worked for. She said: “He put his hand between my legs.”
Former Labour frontbencher Lisa Nandy yesterday accused Mrs May of ignoring her calls three times to look into evidence that party whips were exploiting sex abuse claims to control MPs. REGRETS Sir Michael speaks on TV last night