Boris Johnson was aware of media reports and speculation about alleged misconduct by Conservative MP Chris Pincher, but promoted him to a senior government role because there was no formal complaint against him at the time, the prime minister’s spokesman said.
The U.K. prime minister suspended Pincher from the ruling Tory party late on Friday. Yet that was almost a full day after the MP resigned as Johnson’s political enforcer in the wake of Sun newspaper allegations he groped two fellow guests at a private club, and the delay triggered a backlash.
Johnson is facing intense pressure to spell out why he appointed Pincher as deputy chief whip in February, despite the MP quitting a similar role in 2017 amid allegations he had made unwanted sexual advances on a former Olympic rower. On Friday, spokesman Jamie Davies said Johnson had been unaware of “specific allegations” at the time of his appointment.
