Chris Pincher scandal

[1] On 5 November 2017, Pincher resigned as Comptroller of the Household (Assistant Whip) and voluntarily referred himself to the Conservative Party's complaints procedure and the police, as part of the 2017 Westminster sexual misconduct allegations.

[6] Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner said that "the latest episode" showed that standards in public life had dropped under Boris Johnson.

[7][8] Labour Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the full truth was needed about events and allegations, asking for the whip to be withdrawn from Pincher as a start, and saying that standards in public life were involved.

"[14] Shadow Minister of State at the Cabinet Office Baroness Chapman of Darlington said what Johnson knew when he appointed Pincher, who is a party ally, as whip is unclear.

"[15] BBC News reported that "Two police forces investigated allegations of sexual assault by a man believed to be the MP Christopher Pincher.

One complainant reportedly gave Downing Street details in February and expressed concerns over Pincher becoming a whip in charge of other MPs' welfare.

[20] Labour MP Jonathan Reynolds said: "I think we've got to acknowledge what the consistent problem is and it is a Conservative party that repeatedly chooses to do what is politically expedient over what is right.

"[20][21] Ministers initially said that Johnson was unaware of any specific complaints against Pincher when he was appointed as deputy chief whip.

Later, Downing Street said Johnson was aware at the time of media reports and allegations that were "either resolved or did not progress to a formal complaint".

[22] Sir Simon McDonald, former Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, later said that the prime minister had been briefed "in person" about Pincher[23] in a letter described in a Guardian editorial as an "extraordinary, devastating intervention",[24] saying about the denial by 10 Downing Street: "This is not true."

[27] In an interview with BBC's Chris Mason on 5 July 2022, Johnson said he had appointed Pincher to a government position and had been told about a misconduct complaint against him.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Sajid Javid resigned minutes later.

[28] The vice-chair of the Conservative Party, Bim Afolami resigned the same day along with Saqib Bhatti, Jonathan Gullis and Nicola Richards from their positions as parliamentary private secretaries.