Downing Street has refused to release the bombshell texts between Boris Johnson and Chris Pincher that led to the disgraced former whip’s resignation.
The PM’s official spokesman has previously confirmed the pair exchanged text messages the day Mr Pincher resigned, but declined to “get into details of those specific messages.”
The messages came ahead of a formal letter of resignation, in which Mr Pincher told the PM he “drank far too much” and “embarrassed myself and other people.”
But the PM’s traditional reply to a resigning minister was never published by No10, and the text messages remain under wraps.
No10 routinely releases correspondence between the PM and Ministers when they resign - and Mr Pincher’s role as Deputy Chief Whip was a government ministerial role, with a salary funded by the taxpayer.
But No10 said messages of a “party political” nature are not held by officials, and would not be disclosed under Freedom of Information laws.
Mr Johnson has since admitted "it was a mistake" to appoint Mr Pincher as Deputy Chief Whip, after it emerged he had forgotten about being told of previous allegations of "inappropriate" behaviour.
Asked if it was an error to appoint Pincher, the PM said: “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.”
But he did not deny reports he had jokingly referred to Mr Pincher as “Pincher by name, Pincher by nature.”
And despite his apology, the scandal triggered a wave of resignations from Mr Johnson’s cabinet over his character and judgement - eventually leading to his resignation as Prime Minister.
