MP’s sex texts are read out in the Commons
GRIFFITHS REINSTATED TO TORY PARTY
SHAMED Burton MP Andrew Griffiths says he is “pleased” he has been allowed back into the Tory party – as his sordid texts to two women were read in Parliament.
The suspensions of Mr Griffiths and another MP were lifted on Wednesday in time for them to take part in the vote of confidence in Theresa May.
The news that the whip was restored to enable the married father-of-one to vote in favour of Mrs May has been strongly criticised by opposing politicians, who claimed the Government has committed a “desperate act”.
Mr Griffiths was suspended from the Conservative Party in
July following revelations he had sent a series of sexually explicit and vile texts to two Burton barmaids. As a result the whip was withdrawn and he was only able to vote as an independent.
After the whip was restored, Mr Griffiths told the Burton Mail: “The Conservative Party disciplinary panel recognised I was ill at the time of the messages, and because of the compelling medical evidence took no further action.
“I’m pleased that the party has now restored the whip and I welcome the opportunity to get on with my job and get things done.
“In the last two weeks I’ve been able to help secure nearly £22 million for the hospital’s new development and new trains through Uttoxeter, and getting things done for Burton and Uttoxeter is what I will continue to do.”
East Staffordshire Conservative Association said it was now seeking permission to restart its candidate selection process for the next General Election.
Meanwhile, some of Mr Griffiths’ text messages were read out in Parliament by Jess Phillips, the Labour MP for Yardley Birmingham and a campaigner for women who have been abused.
She also questioned what matters more to the Government – political power or protecting victims of sexual harassment and abuse.
Leader of the House, Tory MP Andrea Leadsom, answered that due process had been undertaken and assured members that the independent complaints procedure would conduct a proper investigation of any complaints made.
One of the barmaids who were texted by Mr Griffiths, Imogen Treharne, spoke about the number and content of some of the texts, which were sent over a twoweek period – and made her phone battery go flat, she said.
In the text messages he sent, Mr Griffiths called himself “Daddy”, promised money for sexual photos, and described sex he claimed to have had with other women. He also requested that the women beat each other.
Mrs Phillips said to the House: “She is so cute, so sweet, I can’t wait to beat her. Can she take a beating?’
“Not my words, Mr Speaker. The words of the MP for Burton, while barraging two of his female constituents with thousands of sexual text messages.
“Last night, the leader of the house’s party gave him and the MP for Dover the whip back without any due process.
“What message does that send about how any process here in this place can ever be trusted?
“Answer me that question and also answer me what matters more? Political power or protecting victims of sexual harassment and abuse?” Mrs Leadsom said she was keen to establish the independent complaints procedure, which is not involved with any party political processes whatsoever, that is designed to enable everyone who works or visits the Commons to be able to take any complaints that they have to an independent place for proper investigation and proper sanction to be applied.
However, the news was condemned by Burton’s Labour Party who called the move by the Government as an “extremely desperate act” and claimed the party has “imploded” by the fact they are still relying on the shamed MP.
Paul Walker, chairman of Burton and Uttoxeter Labour Party, said: “This is an extremely desperate act by a desperate Prime Minister who is a trying to muster all the support she can to save her premiership.”
Mr Griffiths resigned as minister for small businesses ahead of the story breaking and referred himself to the Conservative Party’s code of conduct.
As a result the whip was withdrawn while an investigation took place and he has only been allowed to vote in Parliament as an independent while that has taken place. An investigation by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner is still ongoing.
Mr Griffiths apologised for his actions at the time but said he wanted to stay on as Burton MP.