Boris Johnson is received by the Turkish president in Madrid
A Conservative MP could lose the whip today after being accused of touching two men, a government minister has suggested.
Chris Pincher has resigned as deputy vice-president of the party, but it is still unclear whether he will retain his parliamentary seat.
Labor, as well as other Conservative MPs, have demanded that Pincher lose the party after the allegations.
Simon Hart, a government minister, hinted that he agreed on Friday and suggested the move could happen later today.
“We let the day end, let the blow to the head do its duty today, and then I think we could have a very different conversation as the day progresses,” he told Sky News.
Pincher resigned from his post in government on Thursday, saying he “drank too much” the night before and had been “embarrassed.”
He is reportedly accused of touching two men at a private Conservative club the night before.
Key points
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Michelle O’Neill makes Sinn Fein history with the crown of the Battle of the Somme
Staying a moment away from Michelle O’Neill, the Sinn Fein vice-president has laid a wreath in Belfast in memory of those who died in the Battle of the Somme.
While mayors have laid a laurel wreath on the anniversary of the Battle of World War I in previous years, this is the first time a member of the party leadership has been involved.
Zoe Tidman July 1, 2022 11:52 AM
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Sinn Feinn says the UK is not doing enough with the cost of living crisis
Moving away for a moment from the latest Westminster scandal, Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill has accused the UK government of not doing enough to support the public in the cost of living crisis.
“What the British government has done so far is not good enough. It does not cut the mustard, it does not support the people enough,” the party’s vice-president said.
“So what we have to see is a trained executive and the British government has to tax big business and put money in people’s pockets.”
Zoe Tidman July 1, 2022 11:39 AM
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Questions about Chris Pincher’s quote
Chris Pincher was appointed second in command of the Tory whips office in February along with the whip in chief, Chris Heaton-Harris.
Politico’s London Playbook reported that Boris Johnson was informed of Mr Pincher’s allegations of misconduct prior to the appointment.
Number 10 declined to comment on the allegations.
Zoe Tidman July 1, 2022 11:20 p.m.
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Lib Dem leader says Chris Pincher cannot remain as MP
Liberal Democrat leader Wendy Chamberlain has said it is “difficult to see” how Chris Pincher can remain as an MP.
“This kind of behavior is completely unacceptable in parliament or anywhere else,” he said.
“Now there needs to be a full investigation and in the meantime Chris Pincher should remove the Conservative whip.”
Zoe Tidman July 1, 2022 11:02 AM
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End of Chris Pincher’s third time in the whips office
As mentioned before, this isn’t the first time Chris Pincher has left the whips office.
He resigned as a junior whip in November 2017 following a complaint he made an unwanted pass to former Olympic rower and Conservative candidate Alex Story.
After referring to both the police and the Conservative Party’s complaints procedure, Theresa May was brought back as deputy director in January 2018.
When Boris Johnson became prime minister in July 2019, he was transferred to the Foreign Office as minister of Europe and America before returning to the whips office for the third time earlier this year.
Chris Pincher has been appointed to the whips office three times
(PA)
Zoe Tidman July 1, 2022 11:01 AM
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“He talks a lot” Pincher is still MP, Labor says
A Labor MP has said he “says a lot” that Chris Pincher has not yet lost his parliamentary seat:
Zoe Tidman July 1, 2022 10:34 AM
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Read Chris Pincher’s resignation letter in full
Chris Pincher submitted his resignation letter on Thursday.
You can read it in full here:
Zoe Tidman July 1, 2022 10:14 AM
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Minister on whether Pincher should keep the whip
Simon Hart said he knows “what [he] I’d like it to happen “when asked if Chris Pincher should keep the whip.
He avoids giving a direct answer, but the Sky News presenter says, “I think you think I should lose the whip.”
Zoe Tidman July 1, 2022 9:54 AM
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The minister hints that Chris Pincher could lose the Tory whip today
A cabinet minister has suggested Chris Pincher will lose the party’s smoothie, Kate Devlin reports.
Labor, as well as other Conservative MPs, have called for it after the MP was accused of palpating two men while he was drunk.
Simon Hart, the Welsh secretary, hinted that he agreed and suggested that this move could happen later today:
Zoe Tidman July 1, 2022 9:38 AM
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The minister cannot confirm whether Pincher’s alleged assault is being investigated
A government minister has said he cannot confirm whether the alleged assault by former former Tory deputy Chris Pincher on two guests from a conservative private club is currently being formally investigated.
“It’s still the early days. I don’t know the answer to that because it only came to light around 8pm last night,” Simon Hart told BBC Radio 4’s Today program.
Zoe Tidman July 1, 2022 9:33 AM