U.K. harassment scandal spreads
LONDON — The scandal surrounding Britain’s political class deepened Sunday with more allegations of sexual harassment, abuse of power and other misdeeds, including new claims involving a key ally of Prime Minister Theresa May.
The allegations dating back more than a decade involve behaviour that ranges from inappropriate touching and sending suggestive text messages to matters serious enough to be reported to police for possible prosecution.
First Secretary of State Damian Green, a senior cabinet figure who is in effect May’s deputy, emphatically denied a Sunday Times report that police had found “extreme” pornography on his computer during an investigation nine years ago. He said he is the victim of a smear campaign.
Green already was being investigated for alleged inappropriate advances on a Conservative Party activist. He called the Sunday Times story “completely untrue” and said it came from an untrustworthy, tainted police source.
An official Cabinet Office inquiry into Green’s behaviour started after a woman complained that Green touched her knee at a meeting in a pub and later sent her an inappropriate text message.
The allegations swirling through the British government in the aftermath of Hollywood’s Harvey Weinstein abuse scandal go far beyond Green and former defence secretary Michael Fallon, who stepped down last week after reports of inappropriate behaviour by him surfaced.
A rising number of legislators from the Conservative and Labour parties face similar allegations, and politicians in Scotland and Wales have been caught up as well.
The Welsh government’s cabinet secretary for communities and children, Carl Sargeant, said he resigned Friday after allegations of his misconduct were made. The government’s leader said Sargeant had been removed from his post pending an investigation. Sargeant has asked for an independent inquiry to clear his name.
In Scotland, Mark McDonald, a minister for child care from the Scottish National Party, resigned over past actions. He apologized and said behaviour he had thought might be “humorous” or “friendly” had made people uncomfortable.
Charlie Elphicke, a member of Parliament, has been suspended from the Conservative Party because of what the party calls “serious allegations” that have been referred to police.