MP: ‘Clinch’ photo was faked by Tatler Tory’s henchman
THE Tatler Tory row deepened last night with a claim that an MP was the victim of a ‘fake photo’ stitch-up by one of Mark Clarke’s allies.
Friends of Tory MP David Morris say he believes Andre Walker, one of Clarke’s cronies, was behind a doctored picture of the MP with his blonde researcher sitting on his lap, which appeared in a newspaper.
They also say Walker advised the MP to use lawyer Donal Blaney, a senior Tory who was a friend of Clarke and Walker, to defend his reputation. Mr Blaney resigned as chairman of the Conservative Way Forward group last month over his links with Clarke and Walker.
Alexandra Swann, then 23, the researcher portrayed as sitting on Mr Morris’s lap, also suggested the image was ‘doctored’.
Mr Walker denies being responsible for the photo – a claim backed by Ms Swann. Both worked as Commons aides to Mr Morris at the time. A major inquiry is under way after a series of revelations by this newspaper into allegations of bullying, blackmail and sexual assault by Tatler Tory Clarke following the suicide of party activist Elliott Johnson.
The new claims centre on the photograph, which apparently shows ex-rock musician Mr Morris with Ms Swann perched across his knee at London’s Embassy club.
It appeared in a newspaper although the accompanying story stated there was no suggestion Mr Morris was cheating on his girlfriend.
The MP’s friends say he was ‘shocked’ by the story. One said: ‘Alexandra was not sitting across his knee like that so the picture was clearly a Photoshop job. Those aren’t David’s hands – his right index finger is crooked from a bad break years ago. And surely in the mirror, Dav- id’s hair should be parted on the left? The club owners have also told him that doesn’t look like their place.’
Mr Morris’s friends said Tory whips suspected Walker was involved in the stunt. They also say Walker suggested the MP call Mr Blaney for help in dealing with the story and that Walker accompanied him when he met Mr Blaney, who agreed to write a warning letter to the paper for £600. There is no suggestion Mr Blaney was involved in the photo stunt.
Clarke, Walker and Mr Blaney were in the same Masonic lodge and were close friends until the summer when they fell out. Mr Walker denied being responsible for the photograph. When asked if it was a fake, he replied: ‘How would I know?’
Ms Swann said the snap had ‘clearly been doctored’ but insisted: ‘I don’t think he [Andre] had anything to do with it.’