Commons witch hunt
Explosive gossip spreading online MPs warn lies could ruin careers
A SENIOR Tory last night called for an end to the Westminster sexual harassment ‘witch hunt’ after being named in a ‘libellous’ dossier.
Amid a growing backlash, Michael Fabricant said he was mystified by his inclusion in the document and questioned the motives of its anonymous authors.
He was listed as having been ‘inappropriate with a male journalist in a taxi’. Last night he denied the allegation and warned the claims threatened to undermine action in genuine cases of sexual harassment.
Ministers named in the document, which identifies more than 40 Tory MPs, are threatening to take legal action against social media firms that allowed it to circulate. One said the situation was Kafkaesque. Another fears being dropped by Theresa May as a result.
Mr Fabricant, Lichfield MP and former Tory vice-chairman, said: ‘I have seen the spreadsheet, which is on social media. It only lists Conservative MPs and is a strange hotchpotch of rumour and gossip. I am listed over a single incident where I was said to be “inap- propriate with a male journalist in a taxi”. What does that mean?
‘Was it a risqué joke that I told? If it were anything noteworthy, surely the journalist would have either written it up as a juicy story – or smacked me in the mouth?
‘And who was he anyway, and when? For the life of me, I cannot recall having been in a taxi with a journalist though doubtless I must have been over the last 25 years in parliament. This is why we do need to have an independent investigative body which can assess accusations, punish guilty MPs, and also discredit anyone who smears an MP merely for party political or other ends.
‘Right-minded people everywhere will condemn unsubstantiated witch hunts.’
The dossier, obtained by the Daily Mail, is said to have been drawn up in secret by a small group of current and former parliamentary researchers.
Last night it was freely available on social media, as well as a website based in the US – sparking panic and anger among those named. One minister said: ‘The claims against me are scurrilous and libellous. I hope they’ve got deep pockets.’
An alleged victim of harassment said. ‘It’s the victims who have their names dragged through the papers, not the MPs.’ First Secretary of State Damian Green was yesterday named as being on the list over historic claims that he used the Ashley Madison dating website – an allegation he has always strenuously denied.
One minister said he feared being blacklisted by Mrs May in her next reshuffle as a result of his inclusion in the dossier.
‘It is a nightmare,’ the MP said. ‘The allegations are totally untrue and I don’t understand where they have come from. But I have no way of clearing my name.
‘Everyone knows how strongly the PM rightly feels about this issue. Will I be overlooked in the reshuffle because of it? I don’t know – and probably never will – but I fear I could be.’ Another minister threatened legal action against anyone who published details of his inclusion on the list, saying: ‘The allegations are categorically untrue and anyone circulating this list on the internet is libelling me.’
A third minister also said he would sue anyone who repeated the ‘smear’ against him in the dossier. ‘This is total nonsense and I will come out firing if my name comes out.’
A fourth minister described the situation as Kafkaesque, adding: ‘I’m being accused of things I haven’t done by people I don’t know. I am annoyed and pretty upset about it.’
The spreadsheet of allegations names six serving Cabinet ministers. Many of the claims are either already in the public domain, have been debunked, denied, or do not involve any suggestion of harassment.
Of the 42 Tory MPs named, at least 16 are listed over consensual relationships or involve personal sexual preferences.
Several of the claims appear to have been taken directly from newspaper clippings from the past decade and beyond.
They include Home Secretary Amber Rudd and Kwasi Kwarteng, a parliamentary private secretary to Philip Hammond.
Sources last night confirmed Mrs May was ‘very angry’ about the sex scandal threatening to engulf her government.
‘Hotchpotch of rumour and gossip’