Michael Fallon quit 'after journalist told Downing Street he tried to kiss her'
3 min read
Sir Michael Fallon resigned as Defence Secretary shortly after a Westminster journalist called Downing Street to accuse him of "lunging" at her and trying to kiss her on the lips.
Jane Merrick said that after the alleged incident in 2003, when she was working for the Daily Mail, she "shrank away in horror and ran off to [her] office in the Press Gallery".
Ms Merrick, who was 29 at the time, claimed it happened after she had had lunch with Mr Fallon, who was then an opposition backbencher.
Writing in today's Observer, she said: "I felt humiliated, ashamed. Was I even guilty that maybe I had led him on in some way by drinking with him? After years of having a drink with so many other MPs who have not acted inappropriately towards me, I now know I was not.”
A friend of Mr Fallon told the paper: "Michael realises this kind of incident was unacceptable which is why he had to resign."
The account sheds new light on the circumstances of Mr Fallon's resignation, with previous reports suggesting he had quit because of claims about lewd remarks made to Cabinet colleague Andrea Leadsom.
Ms Merrick said she was compelled to come forward because others were not treating those accusations seriously.
“Once again, some were dismissing the remarks as trivial, the sort of banter that goes on in workplaces across the country," she said.
"By continuing to stay silent now, I was still running away from Fallon, just as I ran away from him in 2003. I decided it was time to come forward and name him. I want him to know that, however long ago this incident was, his behaviour was unacceptable.”
She said her call to Number 10 came just a few hours before Mr Fallon tendered his resignation.
"At 5pm on Wednesday afternoon, I contacted Downing Street to report the 2003 incident to one of the Prime Minister’s aides," she said. "By 7.30pm, Fallon had resigned, admitting his behaviour towards women in the past had ‘fallen short’ of the high standards of the Armed Forces.”
POULTER ALLEGATIONS
In the latest in a string of accusations against MPs, Tory backbencher Dan Poulter has been reported to his party's new disciplinary committee over allegations he behaved improperly with female colleagues.
Fellow Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen reported Mr Poulter over claims he had tried to put his hand up the skirt of three different female MPs.
Writing in the Sunday Times, Mr Bridgen also says his complaint was "met with no interest" by Tory whips when he first reported his concerns some seven years ago.
It is understood Dr Poulter, a former health minister, denies the allegations, although he has not yet made a public comment.
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