Boris Johnson has admitted "it was a mistake" to appoint Chris Pincher as deputy chief whip after it emerged he had forgotten about being told of previous allegations of "inappropriate" behaviour.
Over the last few days, No10 spokespeople and ministers have given the public a number of different explanations on what Mr Johnson knew about Mr Pincher.
Asked if he had lied to the public about what he has known, Mr Johnson said: "No and let me explain what happened. We are talking about a series of appointments over seven years.
“Chris Pincher came into government as deputy chief whip before I became Prime Minister, he was move to the Foreign Office, he then went on to be a minister for housing and we then moved him back to be deputy chief whip.
“About two and a half years ago I got this complaint, it was something that was only raised with me very cursorily but I wish that we had, I in particular, had acted on it and that he had not continued in government because he then went on, I’m afraid, to behave, as far as we can see, according to the allegations that we have, very, very badly.
“I’m sorry for those who have been badly affected by it.”
Speaking to reporters in his Commons office: “I think it was a mistake and I apologise for it. In hindsight it was the wrong thing to do.
“I apologise to everybody who has been badly affected by it. I want to make absolutely clear that there’s no place in this Government for anybody who is predatory or who abuses their position of power.”
