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Parents of dead Tory activist boycott bullying inquiry Parents of dead Tory activist boycott bullying inquiry
(about 2 hours later)
The parents of a young Conservative activist who is suspected to have killed himself after claiming he was being bullied within the Tory party have said they will boycott an inquiry into the allegations.The parents of a young Conservative activist who is suspected to have killed himself after claiming he was being bullied within the Tory party have said they will boycott an inquiry into the allegations.
Lawyers were brought in to investigate the Conservative youth wing after Elliott Johnson was found dead on railway tracks within weeks of raising allegations about the way he was being treated.Lawyers were brought in to investigate the Conservative youth wing after Elliott Johnson was found dead on railway tracks within weeks of raising allegations about the way he was being treated.
Related: Elliott Johnson and Tory bullying claims timeline Related: Elliott Johnson: the young Tory destroyed by the party he loved
Parents Ray and Alison said they believed the investigation was biased and their solicitor had raised concerns about the “lack of independence and transparency”.Parents Ray and Alison said they believed the investigation was biased and their solicitor had raised concerns about the “lack of independence and transparency”.
The Conservative party chairman, Lord Feldman, has faced calls to quit amid claims – which he has denied – that he was aware of bullying within the youth wing.The Conservative party chairman, Lord Feldman, has faced calls to quit amid claims – which he has denied – that he was aware of bullying within the youth wing.
Former Tory election aide Mark Clarke was expelled from the party last month following allegations of bullying – which he strongly denies.Former Tory election aide Mark Clarke was expelled from the party last month following allegations of bullying – which he strongly denies.
Ray Johnson told the Mail on Sunday: “We have never accepted Lord Feldman’s position that he was ‘wholly unaware’ of Clarke’s behaviour until August – not unless he was deaf, dumb and blind.Ray Johnson told the Mail on Sunday: “We have never accepted Lord Feldman’s position that he was ‘wholly unaware’ of Clarke’s behaviour until August – not unless he was deaf, dumb and blind.
“We believe Feldman and other senior officials were fully aware of Clarke’s past, but were prepared to allow him to direct the party’s campaign and risk the safety of young activists used as mere fodder to achieve electoral success.“We believe Feldman and other senior officials were fully aware of Clarke’s past, but were prepared to allow him to direct the party’s campaign and risk the safety of young activists used as mere fodder to achieve electoral success.
“As each day passes we believe it becomes clearer that Tory HQ is complicit in a cover-up to protect its chairman, regardless of the damage it has caused to its youth wing. The party has cleansed its youth wing; the question is now who will move to cleanse Tory HQ itself?”“As each day passes we believe it becomes clearer that Tory HQ is complicit in a cover-up to protect its chairman, regardless of the damage it has caused to its youth wing. The party has cleansed its youth wing; the question is now who will move to cleanse Tory HQ itself?”
The Conservatives brought in law firm Clifford Chance to carry out the investigation, but the couple said they were boycotting the inquiry because the firm had failed to satisfactorily answer questions about its links to the party.The Conservatives brought in law firm Clifford Chance to carry out the investigation, but the couple said they were boycotting the inquiry because the firm had failed to satisfactorily answer questions about its links to the party.
In a letter to Clifford Chance, the Johnson family solicitor said: “For all you have told us the prime minister could be a client and Lord Feldman good friends with senior partners of Clifford Chance.”In a letter to Clifford Chance, the Johnson family solicitor said: “For all you have told us the prime minister could be a client and Lord Feldman good friends with senior partners of Clifford Chance.”
Johnson said the Conservative party had framed the terms of reference of the inquiry and believed witnesses could be “questioned in a manner favourable to the Conservative party, preventing them giving full and frank answers”.Johnson said the Conservative party had framed the terms of reference of the inquiry and believed witnesses could be “questioned in a manner favourable to the Conservative party, preventing them giving full and frank answers”.
He said: “We are concerned that the hands of Tory HQ will be pulling the strings from behind the scenes as their actions to date show that they are more interested in protecting the party machine and its staff than in natural justice for Elliott and other young activists.”He said: “We are concerned that the hands of Tory HQ will be pulling the strings from behind the scenes as their actions to date show that they are more interested in protecting the party machine and its staff than in natural justice for Elliott and other young activists.”