KEY QUESTIONS LORD FELDMAN MUST ANSWER
TORY chairman Lord Feldman is under huge pressure to quit over the party’s mishandling of the ‘Tatler Tory’ scandal. As JACK DOYLE reveals, David Cameron’s university friend and tennis partner has several serious questions to answer:
1 When did you first hear complaints about Mark Clarke’s conduct? It is now understood there was a litany of complaints about Clarke’s behaviour between 2010 and 2015, but Tory HQ says Lord Feldman was ‘wholly unaware of allegations of bullying and inappropriate sexual conduct’ before August this year when he set up an disciplinary inquiry.
2 Did you know Clarke was dropped from the candidates list after the 2010 election and the reasons why? Clarke was ditched because of his misbehaviour, including leaking information and a ‘poisonous relationship’ with activists. Was Lord Feldman aware of this? 3 Were you aware of the letter from former Tory Party chairman Baroness Warsi to her successor Grant Shapps in January, complaining about Clarke trolling her online? The letter contradicts the party’s claims about no written complaints, but did Lord Feldman know about it?
4 Why did you agree to making Clarke and Road Trip 2015 part of the Tory election campaign and did you agree to his taking a desk and pass in Tory HQ? Allies of Mr Shapps, who resigned on Saturday, say he is a scapegoat. Lord Feldman and two other party board members signed off the decision to bring Clarke back and allocated the cash.
5 Were you told of specific complaints of sexual assault or harassment made by two women against Clarke to Tory HQ in the summer and autumn of last year? The women say their complaints were leaked to Clarke, who denies the allegations. Was Lord Feldman told?
6 When did you learn of the leaks which meant Clarke was told the names of the activists who complained about him this summer and what did you do about it? Several alleged victims of Clarke were confronted by him within hours of giving evidence to Tory HQ. Tory peer Emma Pidding is accused of leaking the information. Feldman allegedly asked what her relationship was with Clarke. Baroness Pidding denies the allegation.
7 What is your response to Tory MP Ben Howlett saying that you were ‘well aware of all this, for a very long period of time’ and that it was ‘swept under the carpet’? Mr Howlett told BBC Newsnight he had complained about Clarke but he suspected nothing was done because it might have damaged the election campaign.
8 How can the investigation into Clarke be impartial if your own staff are going to be asking you questions? Tory officials, who all work under Lord Feldman, will interview him and investigate his conduct. An executive from law firm Clifford Chance will review its conclusions. Edward Legard, who is an Eton contemporary of Mr Cameron’s, had previously been leading the inquiry.