The Conservative Party’s main whip has ordered an investigation into allegations that a Tory MP watched pornography on his phone in the Municipal Hall.
The party’s whipping service said Wednesday night that the chief whip “requested that the matter be referred to the Independent Complaints and Complaints Scheme (ICGS)”.
“Upon completion of each ICGS investigation, the Chief Whip will take appropriate action,” the spokesman for the Chief Whip added.
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The accusation is believed to have been made during yesterday’s meeting in 2022 – the women’s group of the group of conservative deputies from 1922.
About 50 to 60 women conservative lawmakers are said to have attended the meeting.
Sky News has learned that two people present told Whip chief Chris Heaton-Harris how they witnessed an MP watching pornography both in the courtroom and in committee.
This comes in response to reports in The Sun and the Daily Mirror that the MP – who is reported to be a Tory frontman – was watching pornography on a mobile phone while sitting next to a female minister.
An MP present told Sky News that Mr Heaton-Harris looked “terrible” and asked for the man’s identity.
Pressed on the issue later Wednesday, the prime minister’s spokesman told reporters: “Obviously, this is completely unacceptable behavior and is being considered.”
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1:38 The porn claim is “just awful” – Home Secretary Rachel McLean
Government Secretary of Defense Rachel McLean told Sky News she was at the 2022 meeting and said “none of us could believe our ears … we were all just shocked and horrified.”
She added that she wanted to see the MP “outside the parliament, outside the party” and added: “There is no place for that in our party.”
Asked if Sir Keir Starmer had an opinion on the matter, a Labor spokesman said: “Yes, this is a crime that can be fired.”
According to Sky News political editor Beth Rigby, the women later spoke with the main whip and named the man.
The Mirror reports that Tory Party Chairman Oliver Dowden, Municipal Leader Mark Spencer and former Prime Minister Theresa May also attended the meeting.
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6:01 Raynor comments on “misogynistic belly”
Sexual misconduct “grounds for dismissal”
The meeting came amid reports that dozens of lawmakers, including three cabinet ministers, were facing sexual misconduct allegations against the Independent Complaints and Complaints Scheme (ICGS).
The scheme was created after the #MeToo movement and is Parliament’s mechanism for dealing with complaints of harassment, harassment or sexual misconduct.
The Sunday Times reported over the weekend that the 56 lawmakers face charges ranging from sexually inappropriate comments to more serious violations.
Asked about the newspaper’s original report during questions from the prime minister, Boris Johnson agreed that sexual misconduct would be a “reason for dismissal” for ministers.
Appearing on Sunday’s Sky News Ridge program last weekend, Conservative Party Chairman Mr Dowden was asked if Westminster was a safe place for a woman.
“I think we’ve actually made big improvements in the last 20 or 30 years,” he said.
“I’m sure some of the things that happened when you were a young reporter and when I started in Westminster certainly weren’t going to happen now, and I think that’s something that has improved a lot for the better.”
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0:28 “I had to prepare my teenage sons”
Raynor responds to a “misogynistic” article
Meanwhile, Labor’s deputy leader Angela Raynor has condemned a “sexist” and “misogynistic” article in the Mail on Sunday, alleging that Tory lawmakers accused her of a “basic instinct” trick to distract the prime minister.
The deputy Labor leader was accused of deliberately distracting Mr Johnson by crossing and crossing his legs, and the story received a huge reaction after its publication.
In response to an article in last weekend’s Mail on Sunday, the prime minister tweeted that he respected Ms. Raynor and condemned “misogyny directed at her anonymously today.”
The editor of the Mail on Sunday refused to meet with the mayor of the municipality, Sir Lindsey Hoyle, because of the newspaper’s “women’s” report.
David Dylan declined an invitation to meet with Sir Lindsay Hoyle to discuss anonymous allegations published in the newspaper, saying in a letter that he would not attend the meeting because journalists “should not accept instructions from House of Commons officials as much as August to be them “.
Read more: Angela Raynor says she had to prepare her teenage sons for a “misogynistic” article
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