In 2018, former deputy chief Chris Pincher got his hands “everywhere” at a gay bar in Soho, London, according to new allegations made to ITV News.
A man who was working in politics at the time alleges that the deputy palpated him on the afternoon of January 24 of that year. He claims Mr. Pincher was drunk and touched his ass.
The man, who wants to remain anonymous, also has a handkerchief that he says was given to him by Mr. Pincher that night after the couple had spent time together.
The handkerchief that Chris Pincher allegedly gave away to one of his accusers. Credit: ITV News
Speaking to ITV News, he said: “[Mr Pincher] He was pretty drunk and had his hands all over me, I felt so uncomfortable knowing he was a deputy. “
The alleged incident took place a few months after the MP resigned in November 2017 as a whip in Theresa May’s government following allegations of sexual misconduct.
The latest statements told ITV News add to a number of other allegations that have been made in recent days after Mr Pincher resigned as Boris Johnson’s deputy director amid allegations that he “touched” two men. .
The Tamworth MP, who is under investigation for the latest allegations, told the prime minister he was resigning after “drinking too much” at a private Conservative club and “being ashamed”.
Mr Pincher was revealed on Monday that he was the subject of other allegations of a similar nature, for alleged behavior in 2019 which saw a “group of individuals” complain to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The allegations led to an investigation within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which confirmed the complaint but no disciplinary action was taken.
Number 10 has admitted that Prime Minister Johnson was informed of the investigation, although he had previously denied that he knew of any specific allegations against Mr Pincher, but still made him his deputy director in February 2022.
The prime minister’s spokesman, explaining the denials, suggested Johnson had forgotten about the 2019 investigation when the most recent allegations were made.
Johnson was informed of the Foreign Office investigation after deciding to turn Mr. Pincher into his deputy director in this year’s reshuffle, and decided it was not appropriate to block the deputy’s promotion based on the issues resolved.
The man who alleges on ITV News that Mr Pincher touched his ass in Soho in 2018 worked for Mr Johnson at number 10.
He stated that the Prime Minister “wanted to give Mr Pincher the post of principal, but he was advised to give him a deputy to keep a low profile because they knew of his behavior”. “There is no way the prime minister will forget the previous allegations. He was advised not to give him this position or even a high office.”
Pincher has generally denied the allegations against him, but so far has not responded to ITV News’ request for a response to the latter allegations.
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The politician, who remains a deputy despite intense pressure to resign, is under investigation by Parliament’s Independent Complaints and Complaints System after one of the men he allegedly palpated last week lodged a formal complaint.
In a statement over the weekend, the former minister said he would fully cooperate with the investigation and called for professional medical support after “the stress of the last few days”.
He said he hopes to return to work as a deputy “as soon as possible.”