The deputy chief whip resigned last month following allegations of inappropriate touching, but questions have been raised about how much Boris Johnson knew before appointing him.
Will Quince, the minister of education, says he has received “categorical assurance” from No. 10 that Boris Johnson “was not aware of any serious specific allegations” against his disgraced former deputy chief whip, Chris Pincher when he was appointed.
Mr. Pincher resigned from his position last week after he was accused of drunkenly groping two men on Wednesday at a private members’ club in London.
He only became an independent MP on Friday afternoon, when the Tory whip was removed from him.
It was the second time the MP for Tamworth in Staffordshire resigned from the whips office after being accused of an inappropriate advance by Conservative candidate Alex Story in 2017.
However, questions have been raised regarding what the prime minister knew before appointing Mr. Pincher in February, with allegations that Mr. Johnson referred to the MP as “Pincher by name and pincher by nature” before the appointment.
Anneliese Dodds, chair of the Labour Party, has written to the prime minister demanding answers, claiming that Mr. Johnson is “clearly willing to sweep sexual misconduct under the rug to save his skin.”
Mr. Quince told Ms. Burley that it was a “fair question” to inquire what the Prime Minister knew and that he had asked Number 10 “firmly and clearly” before going on air.
He added, “I have been assured categorically that the prime minister was unaware of any serious allegations against the former deputy chief whip.”
Jenny Chapman of the Labour Party, however, found it “impossible to believe” that the Prime Minister was unaware of any allegations, citing “widespread rumors” about Mr. Pincher’s behavior in Westminster.
“These facts were common knowledge,” she told Kay Burley. “What kind of person decides that the best course of action for this guy is to give him a huge promotion?
That is precisely what Boris Johnson did. And he did it because it was his friend, which we believe is wrong.”
Mr. Quince stated that the allegations against Mr. Pincher were “shocking and abhorrent” and that they caused “huge damage to the reputation and credibility of Parliament.”
In addition, he stated that it was crucial to “call out” such behavior, urging other victims to come forward, and “if the allegation is serious, I would encourage people to contact the police.”
Mr. Pincher is currently under investigation by the Independent Complaints and Grievances Scheme of the Parliament.
He stated that he is seeking “professional medical assistance” and that he hopes to represent his constituents “as soon as possible”.
