Chris Pincher (right) with chief whip Chris Heaton-Harris leaving Downing Street following their appointment in February (Aaron Chown/PA)
(Picture: PA Wire)Conservative MP Chris Pincher wrote to Boris Johnson on Thursday tendering his resignation as Deputy Chief Whip.
“Last night I drank far too much. I’ve embarrassed myself and other people which is the last thing I want to do and for that I apologise to you and to those concerned,” his stunning resignation letter opened, without going on to reference the specific allegations reported in the press of groping two guests at a private members’ club.
Boris Johnson accepted the resignation, a No10 spokesperson said, and Pincher’s letter said he will continue to give his “full support from the back benches” to the PM.
However, there have been calls that he should not continue in his role as an MP, which he has held since 2010 when first elected in his West Midlands constituency of Tamworth.
Among those questioning his position are two senior Tory MPs: Caroline Nokes, who chairs the Commons Women and Equalities Committee, and Karen Bradley, who heads the Commons Procedure Committee. They have jointly written to Chief Whip Chris Heaton-Harris demanding a “zero tolerance” approach to sexual misconduct and a “thorough investigation”.
“Once an investigation has been completed, a decision should be taken about returning the whip, but in the meantime, anyone subject to such an investigation should not be allowed to sit as a Conservative MP and represent the party in any capacity,” they write.
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