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Grant Shapps resigns over bullying scandal Grant Shapps resigns over bullying scandal
(35 minutes later)
Grant Shapps, the former chairman of the Conservative party, has resigned as a government minister, Downing Street sources have indicated after David Cameron refused to offer his full support following Guardian revelations that he was warned about alleged bullying in the party. Grant Shapps, the former chairman of the Conservative party, has resigned as a government minister, Downing Street sources have indicated, after David Cameron refused to offer his full support following Guardian revelations that he was warned about alleged bullying in the party.
The father of 21-year-old Elliot Johnson, who claimed he was bullied by the Tory party youth organiser Mark Clarke before being found dead, demanded that Shapps and Andrew Feldman resign for failing to act over the scandal. The pair were party co-chairmen at the time of the alleged bullying.The father of 21-year-old Elliot Johnson, who claimed he was bullied by the Tory party youth organiser Mark Clarke before being found dead, demanded that Shapps and Andrew Feldman resign for failing to act over the scandal. The pair were party co-chairmen at the time of the alleged bullying.
Ray Johnson’s demand followed the revelation that the Tory peer Sayeeda Warsi had written to Shapps, her successor as party chairman, in January to demand action be taken against Clarke for abusing her on Twitter. The uncovering of the letter directly contradicted the party’s claim that it had received no written complaints about Clarke before August.Asked at a press conference during a Commonwealth summit in Malta to offer Shapps, who is an international development minister, his full support, Cameron repeatedly refused to do so. The prime minister instead said he felt deeply for Johnson’s parents.Ray Johnson’s demand followed the revelation that the Tory peer Sayeeda Warsi had written to Shapps, her successor as party chairman, in January to demand action be taken against Clarke for abusing her on Twitter. The uncovering of the letter directly contradicted the party’s claim that it had received no written complaints about Clarke before August.Asked at a press conference during a Commonwealth summit in Malta to offer Shapps, who is an international development minister, his full support, Cameron repeatedly refused to do so. The prime minister instead said he felt deeply for Johnson’s parents.
“On Grant Shapps there will be a statement made later on today about that issue,” Cameron said. “I think it is important that on the tragic case that took place that the coroner’s inquiry is allowed to proceed properly.“I feel deeply for his parents, It is an appalling loss to suffer and that is why it is so important there is a proper coroner’s inquiry. In terms of what the Conservative party should do, there should be and there is a proper inquiry that asks all the questions as people come forward. That will take place.“On Grant Shapps there will be a statement made later on today about that issue,” Cameron said. “I think it is important that on the tragic case that took place that the coroner’s inquiry is allowed to proceed properly.“I feel deeply for his parents, It is an appalling loss to suffer and that is why it is so important there is a proper coroner’s inquiry. In terms of what the Conservative party should do, there should be and there is a proper inquiry that asks all the questions as people come forward. That will take place.
“It is a tragic loss of a talented young life and it is not something any parent should go through and I feel for them deeply.”Elliott Johnson, a blogger for a Tory pressure group, was found dead on railway tracks on 15 September. He named Mark Clarke, a youth organiser in the party who had worked with Shapps when he was chairman, as a bully in a letter written shortly before he is believed to have killed himself. Clarke and others are alleged to have leaned on him to withdraw a complaint, and threatened to ruin his career.“It is a tragic loss of a talented young life and it is not something any parent should go through and I feel for them deeply.”Elliott Johnson, a blogger for a Tory pressure group, was found dead on railway tracks on 15 September. He named Mark Clarke, a youth organiser in the party who had worked with Shapps when he was chairman, as a bully in a letter written shortly before he is believed to have killed himself. Clarke and others are alleged to have leaned on him to withdraw a complaint, and threatened to ruin his career.
Johnson also sent a colleague a recording of a conversation in a pub in which Clarke and another activist, Andre Walker, appeared to threaten him.Johnson also sent a colleague a recording of a conversation in a pub in which Clarke and another activist, Andre Walker, appeared to threaten him.
Clarke, who denies all the allegations against him, has said: “I have nothing further to add to my previous statements on Elliott Johnson as I am waiting to speak to the coroner. But I deny any wrongdoing.”Clarke, who denies all the allegations against him, has said: “I have nothing further to add to my previous statements on Elliott Johnson as I am waiting to speak to the coroner. But I deny any wrongdoing.”
Related: Revealed: Conservative party chiefs were warned of election aide's bullyingRelated: Revealed: Conservative party chiefs were warned of election aide's bullying
Since Johnson’s death there have been numerous reports alleging that Clarke was at the centre of a plot to blackmail at least one senior MP..Since Johnson’s death there have been numerous reports alleging that Clarke was at the centre of a plot to blackmail at least one senior MP..
This month a party spokesperson said: “We have been checking and rechecking, but have not been able to find any records of written complaints that were made but not dealt with – but we are determined to get to the bottom of what’s happened.”This month a party spokesperson said: “We have been checking and rechecking, but have not been able to find any records of written complaints that were made but not dealt with – but we are determined to get to the bottom of what’s happened.”
When asked earlier on Saturday whether the prime minister still had confidence in Shapps and Lord Feldman, a party spokesperson responded: “Yes, he does have full confidence.” But just hours later the party confirmed a statement would be made on Shapps’s future on Saturday afternoon.When asked earlier on Saturday whether the prime minister still had confidence in Shapps and Lord Feldman, a party spokesperson responded: “Yes, he does have full confidence.” But just hours later the party confirmed a statement would be made on Shapps’s future on Saturday afternoon.
Clarke, 38, a consultant at Unilever, was appointed by Shapps in July last year as director of the RoadTrip 2015 campaign, which organised busloads of young activists touring the country to campaign for the Conservatives in key constituencies.Clarke, 38, a consultant at Unilever, was appointed by Shapps in July last year as director of the RoadTrip 2015 campaign, which organised busloads of young activists touring the country to campaign for the Conservatives in key constituencies.
Shapps succeeded Warsi as co-chair of the Conservative party in September 2012 and held the post until he was demoted after the general election to a junior portfolio at the Department for International Development.Shapps succeeded Warsi as co-chair of the Conservative party in September 2012 and held the post until he was demoted after the general election to a junior portfolio at the Department for International Development.
Related: Elliott Johnson: the young Tory destroyed by the party he lovedRelated: Elliott Johnson: the young Tory destroyed by the party he loved
Feldman, a friend of Cameron since they studied together at Brasenose College, Oxford, was co-chair of the party from May 2010 until this May, when he became sole chair, and has also been linked to the scandal.Feldman, a friend of Cameron since they studied together at Brasenose College, Oxford, was co-chair of the party from May 2010 until this May, when he became sole chair, and has also been linked to the scandal.
In calling on the men to resign, Ray Johnson alleged: “Feldman, Shapps and whoever else is involved in this – clearly these senior members of the party have been telling lies.”In calling on the men to resign, Ray Johnson alleged: “Feldman, Shapps and whoever else is involved in this – clearly these senior members of the party have been telling lies.”
“You wonder about the people running the country, whether they’re fit to govern. If they had behaved responsibly, like any other organisation, none of these events would have happened, my son would still be alive and many activists wouldn’t have been intimidated and harassed.”“You wonder about the people running the country, whether they’re fit to govern. If they had behaved responsibly, like any other organisation, none of these events would have happened, my son would still be alive and many activists wouldn’t have been intimidated and harassed.”