Tory minister resigns after bombarding two women with “daddy” text messages

"I’m thinking maybe we need a flat for Daddy’s girls"

The small business minister Andrew Griffiths has been forced to resign after messages sent to a 28-year-old constituent and her friend were revealed by the Sunday Mirror. The married Conservative MP for Burton and Uttoxeter - who became a father in April - sent 2,000 texts to two barmaids over a series of three weeks, paying Imogen Treharne and her friend £700 and offering to rent a flat to meet for sex. In one message, he is said to have written: "Take off the bra and panties… you’ve got Daddy in such a frenzy." It was also claimed he messaged the women saying: "I’m thinking maybe we need a flat for Daddy’s girls. I’m taken by you both. You girls are spectacular." And after voting against the Government’s Brexit bill, he told the girls: “Daddy’s busy running the country.” Imogen claims that he demanded explicit photos and videos and described degrading sex acts in detail after they began speaking on social media. She said that although she "always asked him about his interests", the conversation "always turned back to sex." In a statement, Griffiths said: “I am deeply ashamed at my behaviour which has caused untold distress to my wife and family, to whom I owe everything, and deep embarrassment to the Prime Minister and the Government I am so proud to serve. “I do not seek to excuse my behaviour and will be seeking professional help to ensure it never happens again.”