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03rd Jul 2022

Chris Pincher: Six new claims of inappropriate behaviour levelled at former Tory deputy chief whip

Charlie Herbert

Some of the allegations date back as far as 2017

Six new claims of inappropriate behaviour by disgraced former Tory MP Chris Pincher.

The MP for Tamworth, who has been dubbed a ‘pound shop Harvey Weinstein’ in the past, announced his resignation on Thursday.

This came after he is alleged to have assaulted two men at the Carlton Club – a Tory Party private members’ club in London’s Piccadilly – on Wednesday evening.

Now, more allegations against Pincher have emerged.

Among the allegations, which were reported by the Independent, the Mail on Sunday and the Sunday Times, are three occasions when Pincher is accused of making unwanted advances on male MPs.

It is claimed that these happened in a bar in parliament and in his own parliamentary office.

No official complaints were made at the time.

According to the reports, one of the MPs contacted Downing Street in February with details of what had happened to him. They voiced their concerns about the imminent appointment of Pincher as a party whip, a position in which he would ben in charge of the discipline and welfare of other MPs.

Announcing his resignation as deputy chief whip, Pincher said in a statement he had “drunk far too much” on Wednesday night, “embarrassing myself and others, and I am truly sorry for the upset I caused”.

He added that he will now be seeking “professional medical support” but said he hopes “to be able to return to my constituency duties as soon as possible.”

On Friday, Pincher had the Conservative whip removed following the initial allegations.

A spokesperson for the Chief Whip said: “Having heard that a formal complaint has been made to the ICGS, the PM has agreed with the Chief Whip that the whip should be suspended from Chris Pincher while the investigation is ongoing.”

This was after Number 10 had initially said it considered the matter closed and would not be investigating the allegations.

He will sit as an independent in the House of Commons.

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