Leadsom backlash ‘could deter other victims’

CABINET ministers have warned that attacks on Andrea Leadsom for reporting inappropriate behaviour by Sir Michael Fallon could deter other victims of sexual harassment from complaining.

Sir Michael resigned on Wednesday, a day after Mrs Leadsom, the Leader of the Commons, gave Downing Street a dossier of claims about his behaviour, including making lewd remarks about her and other women and engaging in unwanted physical contact.

That prompted a backlash from friends of Sir Michael, who accused her of “knifing” him after he suggested she was a “dud” who would have to be sacked to get Cabinet agreement on the Brexit deal.

But a Cabinet source last night hit back at Mrs Leadsom’s detractors, suggesting it was an example of misogynistic behaviour towards victims of harassment. The source said: “The backlash against Leadsom is proof of why those who have experienced harassment or abuse fear coming forward”.

Anna Soubry, the former Conservative minister for business, described the leaking of Mrs Leadsom’s name as “absolutely disgraceful” and a “betrayal of her confidence”. Mrs Soubry said: “The way that Andrea Leadsom has been treated is further evidence of a culture that’s rotten to the core. She’s the party against whom the wrong has been committed.

“No10 should be finding out who has betrayed her confidence. I know the Prime Minister and Andrea Leadsom know what a serious crisis this is and they are absolutely committed to making sure that women and men can come forward and complain, their complaint can be dealt with properly and treated as strictly confidential.

“For one of those people then to have a breach of confidentiality is outrageous.”

Sir Michael denies making lewd remarks to Mrs Leadsom.