PM had no choice but to sack her ally Green, says Hunt
THERESA May had no choice but to sack her lifelong friend and de facto deputy Damian Green after he admitted making “misleading” statements over claims police found pornography on his Commons computer, Jeremy Hunt has said.
The Health Secretary said it was clear the Prime Minister acted with a “very heavy heart” when she ordered Mr Green to tender his resignation after summoning him to No 10 on Wednesday evening.
However, Mr Hunt said there were questions to answer about the conduct of the retired police officer who leaked details of the raid on Mr Green’s Commons office in 2008 when pornographic images were found on his computer.
Mr Green, who was born in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, left his post as First Secretary of State continuing to deny “unfounded and deeply hurtful” claims that he downloaded or viewed the material.
But an investigation by the Cabinet Office found two statements Mr Green made on November 4 and 11, which suggested he was not aware indecent material had been discovered, were “inaccurate and misleading” and breached the ministerial code.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Mrs May received the report in Downing Street on Monday.
The following day she referred it to her independent adviser on ministers’ interests, Sir Alex Allan, who told her on Wednesday that he agreed with the finding that there had been a breach of the ministerial code.
Mr Green’s sacking follows the November resignations of Sir Michael Fallon as defence secretary, amid Westminster sleaze allegations, and international development secretary Priti Patel over undisclosed meetings in Israel.
Mr Hunt said it was clear Mr Green had “lied” and it was right that Cabinet ministers were held to the “very highest standards of conduct”.
“Everyone understands the pressures politicians are under,” he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.
“Under every government I can remember there are instances where perhaps people get pushed into a situation where they say something they didn’t mean to say and we do hold people to very high standards of conduct.
“On this occasion, very, very sadly and I know with a very heavy heart, the Prime Minister took the decision that she had to. I am sure that she didn’t