Tory MP asked May to make Fallon quit
Revelation fuels fears sex scandal could ruin government
FORMER British defence secretary Michael Fallon was forced to quit after his cabinet colleague Andrea Leadsom complained about his behaviour, it emerged last night.
Conservative Party sources said Mrs Leadsom, the leader of the House of Commons, complained directly to Theresa May about ‘vile’ language used by Mr Fallon towards her at a parliamentary meeting six years ago.
The sensational revelation that one minister asked Mrs May to sack another will fuel fears that the Westminster sex scandal could tear the British government apart.
Mr Fallon is said to have told Mrs Leadsom, who had complained of cold hands: ‘I know where you can put them to warm them up.’
Mr Fallon is also alleged to have made derogatory comments of a sexual nature about other MPs on the committee, as well as members of the public who had attended meetings.
A source close to Mr Fallon said last night: ‘He categorically denies saying something as appalling as he knows where she could warm her hands.’ The revelation came after Labour MP Kevin Hopkins was suspended following claims that he sent inappropriate text messages to a 24-year-old activist.
Commons leader John Bercow called on party leaders to produce plans to tackle sexual harassment, while Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson called on Mrs May to ‘clear the stables’ at the top of the party.
Mrs Leadsom’s complaint is said to be central to the prime minister’s decision on Wednesday night that Mr Fallon should resign.
Mrs Leadsom made the allegation to Mrs May on Monday. Hours later, with the prime minister sitting beside her in the Commons, she told MPs that ministers should face the sack if they were found guilty of behaviour that made women ‘feel uncomfortable’.
Her intervention sparked a series of crisis meetings in which Mrs May, chief whip Gavin Williamson and Downing Street chief of staff Gavin Barwell tried to establish the truth and agree a way forward with Mrs Leadsom and Mr Fallon. Mrs Lead- som declined to comment last night. Downing Street also refused to comment on the claims. Defence sources acknowledged that Mr Fallon had made sexist references about other women’s looks in Mrs Leadsom’s hearing, but denied he made the specific remark attributed to him.
Mr Fallon admitted on Monday evening that he had touched the knee of journalist Julia HartleyBrewer at a boozy dinner at the 2002 Tory party conference.
But former Tory minister Anna Soubry yesterday said anyone with a brain knew that ‘Kneegate’ was not the reason for Mr Fallon’s resignation. Meanwhile, former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith urged Mrs May to get tough with any politicians whose personal conduct threatened the reputation of her government, saying she needed to ‘rule with a rod of iron’ to prevent the scandal spiralling out of control. But some Tories believe they could face a witch hunt in which relatively minor indiscretions lead to careerending sanctions.