Tory whip Chris Pincher resigns and refers himself to police over behaviour allegations
2 min read
A Tory MP and whip has referred himself to the police after allegations over his behaviour, Downing Street has confirmed.
Chris Pincher has also ‘voluntarily stood down’ from the whips’ office and has referred himself to his party’s complaints procedure.
The move comes after the Mail on Sunday reported that Mr Pincher had been accused of making an unwanted advance at former Olympic rower and Conservative activist Alex Story before he was an MP, in 2001.
He is alleged to have tried to untuck the shirt of Mr Story after persuading him to come back to his London home, as well as massaging his neck while saying: “You will go far in the Conservative Party.”
Mr Story claims that at one point Mr Pincher left the room, saying “let me just slip into something more comfortable”, before returning in a bathrobe “like a pound shop Harvey Weinstein.”
Mr Pincher told the newspaper: "If Mr Story has ever felt offended by anything I said then I can only apologise to him."
A Downing Street spokesman said last night: "After several conversations with the Chief Whip, in order to address a number of questions, Mr Pincher has voluntarily referred himself both to the party's complaints procedure and the police, and has voluntarily stood down from the Whips Office in the meantime."
INTERNAL INQUIRIES
Three Conservative MPs have now been referred to the party’s new internal disciplinary panel, which was set up only last week.
Party officials confirmed Daniel Kawczynski had been referred to the panel for investigation on Sunday, over allegations he had put pressure on a female colleague to go on a “date” with a business contact.
Former Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb is also under investigation regarding text messages sent to a 19-year-old woman who applied for a job in his office.
Meanwhile a former Health Minister, Dan Poulter, was referred to the panel on Sunday morning, over allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
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