Tory MP: 'wilting flower' female hacks are responsible for Westminster sex scandal
3 min read
Female journalists are to blame for the Westminster sexual harassment scandal, according to a veteran Tory MP.
Sir Roger Gale claimed female reporters are putting MPs “on the rack” saying they were being treated as “guilty until... proved innocent”.
He also described those who have come forward with historic claims as “wilting flowers”.
His comments follow Michael Fallon's resignation as Defence Secretary after journalist Jane Merrick said he "tried to kiss her" after a lunch meeting.
De-facto deputy prime minister Damian Green has also come under fire after writer Kate Maltby accused him of acting inappropriately towards her.
Trade minister Mark Garnier is currently under investigation for asking his aide to buy him sex toys, whilst Tory MP, Chris Pincher, has stepped down as a government whip and referred himself to the police over claims in a newspaper that he made a pass at a party activist in 2001.
But in a surprise intervention, Sir Roger Gale said the scandal had become a “witch hunt” which meant MPs were less likely to have lunch with journalists.
“And I’m afraid you are responsible,” he told the Mail Online's Kate Ferguson.
Asked if he meant the media, he added: “Yes, well mainly female journalists are responsible.
“There are female journalists who after years have suddenly said: “oh well you know I had an experience... I’m sorry, where are all these people coming from who are such wilting flowers?
“Nobody makes a journalist go and have lunch with a Member of Parliament and drink.
“There is no come back. Damian Green is now on the rack, for what? He is guilty until he is proved innocent.”
He added he no longer employed any staff in London because he was concerned accusations would be levelled against him.
“In addition to advising all of my own children under no circumstances to run for Parliament – which one of them was thinking of doing – I have now taken a view on interns.
“For 35 years in the House nearly, I have had work experience kids in my office in London.
“Now I don’t have any staff in London, all my team are in Kent. So I’m alone, I don’t have a chaperone.
“I’ve now had to say, I’m terribly sorry it’s been great fun, they’ve been bright kids jolly to have around – I usually have them for three days at a time or something.
“But I can’t do it. I will not subject myself or my family to the risk of accusation. So I’m not going to do it anymore.”
He added: “I can’t do it anymore - isn’t that sad? But this is the world we are living in."
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