Chris Pincher: There is no current investigation into alleged groper, PM’s spokesperson says

Spokesperson for Johnson says there were no grounds to block alleged groper's appointment

Downing Street say the prime minister has not opened an investigation into the alleged misconduct of former Tory whip Chris Pincher, who resigned from government overnight. Boris Johnson's deputy spokesperson also claimed the prime minister had not been aware of "substantiated" allegations when he made the appointment of Chris Pincher to the whip's office - despite various sources claiming he did. “In the absence of any formal complaint it was not appropriate to stop the appointment on the basis of unsubstantiated allegations,” the deputy spokesperson said.

Number 10 say that Boris Johnson considers the matter of the former deputy chief whip closed following his resignation overnight, arguing that Pincher is "no longer a minister," and therefore not under the direct jurisdiction of the prime minister's office.

On Thursday, Boris Johnson's deputy chief whip resigned from government following an allegation of groping. In a letter to the prime minister Pincher said he had drunk "far too much" and had "embarrassed myself and other people" on a night out. "I apologise to you and to those concerned," he wrote. According to government sources, Pincher "groped two men in front of others" at the Carlton Club in the St James's area of central London - one of those groped is understood to be an MP. His departure comes less than a week after former Tory chairman Oliver Dowden stood down from government over two by-election defeats. Related Links

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