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Tory aide at centre of bullying claims was brought on board by Grant Shapps Tory aide at centre of bullying claims was brought on board by Grant Shapps
(about 11 hours later)
The Tory election aide at the centre of fresh allegations of attempted blackmail and bullying was personally brought on board by former chairman Grant Shapps, the Conservative party has revealed.The Tory election aide at the centre of fresh allegations of attempted blackmail and bullying was personally brought on board by former chairman Grant Shapps, the Conservative party has revealed.
The party has been investigating Mark Clarke since before the death in September of young activist Elliott Johnson, who is believed to have killed himself and had accused Clarke of bullying.The party has been investigating Mark Clarke since before the death in September of young activist Elliott Johnson, who is believed to have killed himself and had accused Clarke of bullying.
Since then, a number of whistleblowers have come forward to allege that Clarke, who ran the RoadTrip2015 campaign that bussed young activists around the country, was engaged in inappropriate behaviour. Robert Halfon, the deputy chairman of the party, was warned before the election that Clarke could try to blackmail him about an affair with a Tory activist.Since then, a number of whistleblowers have come forward to allege that Clarke, who ran the RoadTrip2015 campaign that bussed young activists around the country, was engaged in inappropriate behaviour. Robert Halfon, the deputy chairman of the party, was warned before the election that Clarke could try to blackmail him about an affair with a Tory activist.
Ben Howlett, a Conservative MP, also told BBC Newsnight this week that he had warned about Clarke’s behaviours and felt personally bullied in a way that affected his health. Ben Howlett, a Conservative MP, also told BBC Newsnight this week that he had warned the party leadership about Clarke’s behaviour and felt personally bullied in a way that affected his health.
Clarke, who ran unsuccessfully in the 2010 election against Labour’s Sadiq Khan in Tooting, south London, was praised for his work for the RoadTrip2015 campaign by David Cameron during the 2015 election, but he was expelled from the party this week and banned for life. In the latest accusations, a whistleblower told the Daily Mail that there were concerns about Clarke going back at least seven years, which she had sent to the party leadership and Downing Street.
She claimed Clarke had compiled dossiers on Tory MPs after encouraging young activists to sleep with them, and threatened to destroy her after she turned down an unwanted sexual advance. Clarke has claimed the latest allegations are untrue.
Clarke, who ran unsuccessfully in the 2010 election against Labour’s Sadiq Khan in Tooting, south London, was praised for his work for the RoadTrip2015 campaign by David Cameron during this year’s election, but he was expelled from the party this week and banned for life.
In response to the latest allegations, a Conservative spokeswoman released a lengthy statement that reveals Shapps brought Clarke on board in 2014, in a move that will increase pressure on the Tory chairman to explain whether he had ever been aware of any of the complaints.In response to the latest allegations, a Conservative spokeswoman released a lengthy statement that reveals Shapps brought Clarke on board in 2014, in a move that will increase pressure on the Tory chairman to explain whether he had ever been aware of any of the complaints.
The party also said it will ask an independent lawyer from the law firm Clifford Chance to review its inquiry.The party also said it will ask an independent lawyer from the law firm Clifford Chance to review its inquiry.
“After the General Election in 2010 all candidates on the old approved list were asked to re-apply for the new list,” said the statement. “Those who applied were interviewed by an assessment panel and a recommendation was put to the Candidates Committee. Several hundred candidates were not invited back onto the list, including Mark Clarke.” “After the general election in 2010 all candidates on the old approved list were asked to re-apply for the new list,” said the statement. “Those who applied were interviewed by an assessment panel and a recommendation was put to the candidates committee. Several hundred candidates were not invited back on to the list, including Mark Clarke.”
“Mark Clarke established RoadTrip2015 on his own initiative to campaign in key constituencies in the run up to the General Election. In 2014, Grant Shapps asked Mark Clarke to work in conjunction with the Party’s Team 2015 (the Party’s own volunteer activist organisation). “Mark Clarke established RoadTrip2015 on his own initiative to campaign in key constituencies in the run-up to the general election. In 2014, Grant Shapps asked Mark Clarke to work in conjunction with the party’s Team 2015 (the party’s own volunteer activist organisation).
“We have been unable to find any written complaints of bullying, harassment or any other inappropriate behaviour during this period that were not dealt with … The Party is continuing with its internal inquiry which began in August 2015 in response to a formal complaint, received by Lord Feldman, about the behaviour of Mark Clarke. “We have been unable to find any written complaints of bullying, harassment or any other inappropriate behaviour during this period that were not dealt with … The party is continuing with its internal inquiry which began in August 2015 in response to a formal complaint, received by Lord Feldman, about the behaviour of Mark Clarke.
“Once this process is completed, Lord Feldman has asked Simon Davis, a Senior Partner at Clifford Chance LLP, to ensure that the investigation has been thorough and complete. The Party Board will then consider the evidence and decide on the appropriate course of action. “Once this process is completed, Lord Feldman has asked Simon Davis, a senior partner at Clifford Chance LLP, to ensure that the investigation has been thorough and complete. The party board will then consider the evidence and decide on the appropriate course of action.
“We would encourage any potential witnesses to continue to come forward, and ask that any evidence of written complaints or other relevant material be made available to the Party so that we can continue with our investigation and complete it properly.” “We would encourage any potential witnesses to continue to come forward, and ask that any evidence of written complaints or other relevant material be made available to the party so that we can continue with our investigation and complete it properly.”
Clarke has previously released a statement saying: “I believe that these false allegations and this media firestorm are related to the events surrounding Elliott’s sad death. As such I will be co-operating with the coroner and providing him with the fullest information. This is the proper process. After the inquest I will look to take legal action for defamation in respect of these allegations.” Clarke has previously released a statement saying: “I believe that these false allegations and this media firestorm are related to the events surrounding Elliott’s sad death. As such I will be cooperating with the coroner and providing him with the fullest information. This is the proper process. After the inquest I will look to take legal action for defamation in respect of these allegations.”
Elliott Johnson, a Nottingham University graduate who worked for the campaign group Conservative Way Forward, was found dead on railway tracks at Sandy station, in Bedfordshire, on 15 September. Johnson had made a formal complaint to the party about Clarke before his death.Elliott Johnson, a Nottingham University graduate who worked for the campaign group Conservative Way Forward, was found dead on railway tracks at Sandy station, in Bedfordshire, on 15 September. Johnson had made a formal complaint to the party about Clarke before his death.