British Prime Minister Boris Johnson under pressure over a new sex scandal in his cabinet. Photo: EFE
Boris Johnson’s government, already weakened by various scandals, faces a new headache this Friday due to the resignation of an executive member accused of groping, the latest in a series of similar cases within the Conservative Party.
The comeback is brutal for the premier after a week abroad, where he held three international summits and distanced himself from his political difficulties by presenting himself as a strong supporter of Ukraine against Vladimir Putin.
The social conflicts they multiply as prices rise and, after the “partygate”, they now face a new obstacle.
In a resignation letter dated Thursday, “whip” Chris Pincher – responsible for the parliamentary discipline of conservative MPs – acknowledges that he “drank too much” and apologizes for “the embarrassment he suffered and made other people pass”.
Chris Pincher admitted he drank “too much” at an event and quit in the midst of a scandal. Photo: AP
According to various British media outlets, the 52-year-old politician “tempted” two men – including a deputy, according to Sky News – in front of witnesses at a private club in central London, the Carlton Club, who filed a complaint ahead of the meeting.
case series
The recent series of cases of a sexual nature within the group in power for 12 years is uncomfortable.
An unnamed parliamentarian suspected of rape was arrested and released on bail in mid-May. Another resigned in April for watching pornography in the House of Representatives on his cell phone in April, and a former lawmaker was sentenced in May to 18 months in prison for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy.
In the latter two cases the deputies resigned, causing partial legislative elections and big defeats for the conservativesfollowed by the departure of party chairman Oliver Dowden.
“The prime minister has accepted the resignation and believes it is the right thing to do,” his spokesperson said. “Of course, he considers this type of behavior unacceptable and encourages those who wish to file complaints to do so,” he added.
A protester in London, in front of Parliament, against the government of Boris Johnson, days ago. Photo: AP
Faced with demands to be stricter, Boris Johnson agreed with the head of discipline within the Conservative Party suspend Pincher from the game “While the investigation continues,” a spokesperson for the officer said.
“It is impossible for conservatives to ignore a possible sexual assault,” tweeted Angela Rayner, number two of the Labor Party, the main opposition group.
“Boris Johnson has to explain how Chris Pincher can remain a Conservative MP,” he added, criticizing the “complete downgrading of the norms of public life” under the prime minister.
The latter was weakened by the Downing Street party scandal despite anticovid restrictions during the pandemic. The case earned him a vote of no confidence in his own camp, which he survived.
Previous allegations
Appointed in February, Chris Pincher had already resigned as a “junior whip” in 2017, accused of doing so sexual proposals to an Olympic athlete and potential conservative candidate In the elections. He was acquitted after an internal investigation.
Reinstated by former Prime Minister Theresa May, he joined the Foreign Office as Secretary of State when Boris Johnson came to power in July 2019.
London police have reported that there have been no reports of assaults at the Carlton Club.
Source: AFP
CB
Source: Clarin
