Chris Pincher MP dramatically quit as Tory deputy chief whip last week after disgracing himself with drunken gropes at two men in a Conservative private members’ club.
He was not suspended from the Conservative whip until Friday but continues as an independent MP for Tamworth while the complaints against him are investigated.
Over the weekend, details emerged in the press of further claims about alleged sexual advances to men – including two fellow Conservative MPs – over a period of years.
READ MORE: Boris Johnson was briefed 'in person' over Chris Pincher
Questions immediately arose as to how Boris Johnson could have appointed someone with a long history of allegations and complaints against him.
But the Prime Minister’s spokesman maintained that there were no “specific” complaints the Prime Minster was aware of.
That was blown out of the water by retired senior civil servant Lord Simon McDonald who spoke out to declare the Prime Minister had been personally informed of the problems surrounding Pitcher.
Here is a timeline of the events of the last six days:
Thursday
Chris Pincher resigned as the government deputy chief whip after he was accused of drunkenly groping two men at a reception in the Carlton Club in London.
Friday
Downing Street said Boris Johnson was not aware of any “specific” allegations about Pincher’s past behaviour prior to appointing him in February.
Saturday and Sunday
A slew of allegations about Pincher’s past behaviour appear in the weekend newspapers.
Work and Pensions Secretary Thérèse Coffey denies the claims and reiterates the government line that Boris Johnson didn't know about any claims.
Monday
Attention turned to what Johnson knew of allegations made about Pincher before he was appointed to the whips office in February 2022.
No.10 shifted position and said the Prime Minister had been aware of “allegations” as well as “reports and speculation” when he handed Pincher a job.
Junior minister Will Quince was sent out to defend the Prime Minister on the morning media rounds.
Tuesday morning
Former senior civil servant Lord McDonald publicly accused No.10 of saying things that were “not true”.
McDonald said in the summer of 2019 a complaint by a group of Foreign Office officials about Pincher’s conduct was investigated and upheld.
Crucially, McDonald said that the prime minister was informed of the outcome, leaving deputy PM Dominic Raab floundering on the morning interview round.
Tuesday afternoon
The Prime minister’s spokesperson said Johnson initially “didn’t recall” having been told about the incident when he was asked on Friday by Downing Street staff.
Wednesday
Johnson faces a grilling at Prime Minister’s Questions at midday and is in front of the Commons Liaison Committee at 3pm.
At the same time nominations open for elections to the 1922 backbench Tory committee that could change party rules to challenge Johnson again.
Also Durham police are expected to come back with a decision on whether or not to charge Labour leader Keir Starmer over the so-called Beergate gathering during lockdown. In politics, timing is everything.
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