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Freedom of Information Request Filed by Byline Intelligence Team Contrary to previous reports, it suggests that a Cabinet Office department did not scrutinize the appointment of the former deputy chief.
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new information revealed by Byline Intelligence Team Chris Pincher — the whip of former deputy secretary who resigned following allegations of molestation — had not been scrutinized by the Cabinet Office’s propriety and ethics team in February prior to his appointment, suggesting. Despite previous assurances by Downing Street that his suitability had been assessed.
The allegations surrounding the pinchers and Johnson’s accurate knowledge of the former deputy’s history of inappropriate behavior set off an avalanche of ministerial resignations that overthrew Johnson’s government.
Freedom of Information (FOI) request filed by Byline Intelligence Team Asked the Cabinet Office to share all advice from the Adequacy and Ethics Team regarding the appointment to Deputy Secretary Pincher.
In response, the Cabinet Office said, “We do not retain this information.” The lack of records strongly suggests that Pincher’s aptitude was not reviewed prior to his appointment as a senior government official earlier this year.
This contradicts assurances made by Downing Street in early July, just days before Johnson’s reluctant resignation. He chose not to block his appointment as deputy secretary in February based on “no rumors.”
signing time He asked the Public Relations Office of the Cabinet Office to clarify the conflicting content. A government spokesperson said there was “nothing to add” beyond the FOI’s response.
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Downing Street was forced to admit that Johnson was aware of “allegations that were either resolved or failed to lead to formal charges.”
However, with great damage letter Speaking to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner, Sir Simon Macdonald, former Undersecretary of the Foreign Office, expressed concern that Downing Street’s allegations were “inaccurate”, and that Johnson had “provided a direct account of the initiation and results of the Pincher investigation”. Johnson, who has served as Secretary of Foreign Affairs, has never been acquitted.
“Pincher by name, Pincher by nature”
This isn’t the first time Downing Street’s account of what Johnson knew about Pincher’s alleged wrongdoing has changed.
After Pincher resigned from government in June, a series of ministers were ousted for repeatedly denying that the prime minister had knowledge of formal complaints made against Pincher.
Official party policy has since changed, claiming Mr Johnson had not been informed of “certain allegations” against dishonored MPs. Johnson admitted to being “informed” in late 2019 and was forced to retract it for the third time.
Johnson’s former chief of staff, Dominic Cummings, has repeatedly criticized the prime minister’s integrity and decision-making, and claimed that Johnson was always aware of Pincher’s alleged misconduct. Why did I laugh and repeat, long ago, at number 10, “Pinchers by name, pinchers by essence”? murmured.
The government excused the ever-changing story, saying that the prime minister “couldn’t immediately recall” being informed of the serious allegations against a key ally. A hundred things could be said,” explained a government spokesman.
Sian Norris
A parliamentary inquiry is currently underway to determine whether the outgoing prime minister deliberately misled parliament about the ‘partygate’. The pinchers scandal is another example of what has become a hallmark of the Johnson era. A dysfunctional relationship with the truth and disregard for ethics, especially when it comes to allegations of sexual harassment.
Currently, 56 MPs are under investigation following allegations of sexual misconduct.
Rishi Suanku and Liz Truss have promised a “fresh start” from Johnson’s premiership, but both leadership candidates have been reluctant to move out of the ousted prime minister’s handling of the pincher scandal. rice field.
Former prime minister despite Sunak’s suggestion that Johnson’s deception over Pincher’s promotion was the reason he resigned from government Rejected In a recent interview with the BBC, Pincher said whether he should step down as MP. Foreign ministers rallied around Johnson in the wake of the pinchers incident, claiming she “supported the prime minister 100%.”
Downing Street will have a new prime minister by September, but the end of Johnson’s prime ministerial term doesn’t necessarily mean the end of Johnson’s ethics.
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