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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jan/28/tory-bullying-inquiry-official-seen-as-witness-obstacle-steps-down
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| Tory bullying inquiry: official seen as 'witness obstacle' steps down | Tory bullying inquiry: official seen as 'witness obstacle' steps down |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A Conservative official has stepped aside from the investigation into the death of Elliott Johnson, and bullying in the youth wing of the party, following pressure from the Tory activist’s parents. | A Conservative official has stepped aside from the investigation into the death of Elliott Johnson, and bullying in the youth wing of the party, following pressure from the Tory activist’s parents. |
| Rob Semple, chair of the Tory volunteers’ organisation, the National Convention, was on the board which was due to consider a report by the law firm Clifford Chance. However Semple had been named by up to 15 potential witnesses as the reason why they would not give evidence. | Rob Semple, chair of the Tory volunteers’ organisation, the National Convention, was on the board which was due to consider a report by the law firm Clifford Chance. However Semple had been named by up to 15 potential witnesses as the reason why they would not give evidence. |
| The inquiry is to look at events linked to Johnson’s reported suicide and to the alleged activities of Mark Clarke, a Tory election aide who ran the Road Trips campaign, transporting young activists around the country. | The inquiry is to look at events linked to Johnson’s reported suicide and to the alleged activities of Mark Clarke, a Tory election aide who ran the Road Trips campaign, transporting young activists around the country. |
| Guard Elliott, a Nottingham University graduate and an activist with the rightwing campaign group Conservative Way Forward, was found on the railway tracks at Sandy station, in Bedfordshire, on 15 September 2015. | |
| Lord Feldman, the Conservatives’ chairman, is among those giving evidence to the investigation, which will cover allegations of bullying, sexual misconduct and blackmail involving Clarke, which he had categorically denied. | Lord Feldman, the Conservatives’ chairman, is among those giving evidence to the investigation, which will cover allegations of bullying, sexual misconduct and blackmail involving Clarke, which he had categorically denied. |
| From the start the inquiry has been dogged by accusations of it not being sufficiently independent from the Conservatives. | From the start the inquiry has been dogged by accusations of it not being sufficiently independent from the Conservatives. |
| BBC’s Newsnight reported claims last week that Semple’s role was proving a block to the progress of the investigation, which was taken out of the hands of the Tory party and handed to the the law firm before Christmas. It said that up to 15 key witnesses were reluctant to give evidence because of Semple’s alleged political links to Clarke in the past. | BBC’s Newsnight reported claims last week that Semple’s role was proving a block to the progress of the investigation, which was taken out of the hands of the Tory party and handed to the the law firm before Christmas. It said that up to 15 key witnesses were reluctant to give evidence because of Semple’s alleged political links to Clarke in the past. |
| Ray Johnson, Elliott’s father, said for the first time since his son died the Tory party had given him and his family sight of an announcement in advance of releasing it publicly. | |
| But he said he still does not believe the inquiry will be impartial. “Their (the Conservative party) attempts to control and influence the outcome of the investigation has been obvious to all from the start. | |
| “We are happy that Mr Semple had the good sense to recuse himself, however we are not satisfied that this investigation will be fully impartial – it is, after all, being undertaken by the Conservative party’s own solicitors, who would not fully answer the questions asked by our solicitor regarding their contact with individual senior Conservatives. | |
| “We will not be a party to this, nor will we allow ourselves to be interviewed. It is up to individual activists to decide whether they will now allow themselves be interviewed, based on their own judgement on impartiality and personal security. | |
| “The Conservatives within CCHQ have from the beginning acted solely in their own interests and not in the interests of us and its volunteer activists. It is only constant pressure that has moved them towards the correct path. | |
| “They have wriggled like slippery eels to evade scrutiny. We will not stop until we discover why CCHQ failed to act against Mark Clarke in August, when our son made his complaint, or until we discover the identity of those individuals who leaked Elliott’s complaint (and those of other activists) back to Clarke.” | |
| On Thursday, Semple released a statement saying he was stepping down after seeing an interview with the Johnsons on the BBC. “As a father myself, the wishes of Mr and Mrs Johnson are paramount to me and after seeing their interview on BBC TV, I have decided to recuse myself from the board meeting that will discuss the Clifford Chance report. | On Thursday, Semple released a statement saying he was stepping down after seeing an interview with the Johnsons on the BBC. “As a father myself, the wishes of Mr and Mrs Johnson are paramount to me and after seeing their interview on BBC TV, I have decided to recuse myself from the board meeting that will discuss the Clifford Chance report. |
| “As a Conservative volunteer for 20 years I want to establish the truth of what happened to Elliott. I am convinced the investigation will be fair and thorough, and my decision must not be regarded as my accepting any suggestion that I would be less than impartial. As chairman of the voluntary party I will be pressing for the implementation of all the recommendations of the investigation.” | “As a Conservative volunteer for 20 years I want to establish the truth of what happened to Elliott. I am convinced the investigation will be fair and thorough, and my decision must not be regarded as my accepting any suggestion that I would be less than impartial. As chairman of the voluntary party I will be pressing for the implementation of all the recommendations of the investigation.” |
| A Conservative spokesman urged witnesses to come forward if they had previously felt unable to do so. “If anyone felt they were unable to come forward whilst Rob Semple [was] in the board meeting where the Clifford Chance report was discussed, we would urge them now to do so.” | A Conservative spokesman urged witnesses to come forward if they had previously felt unable to do so. “If anyone felt they were unable to come forward whilst Rob Semple [was] in the board meeting where the Clifford Chance report was discussed, we would urge them now to do so.” |
| Newsnight also learned that 15 key witnesses have called for the removal of a senior Conservative official from any involvement with the party’s inquiry into the scandal. | Newsnight also learned that 15 key witnesses have called for the removal of a senior Conservative official from any involvement with the party’s inquiry into the scandal. |
| Anyone feeling depressed or suicidal can call the Samaritans on 08457 909 090 or email jo@samaritans.org for immediate and confidential support and guidance | Anyone feeling depressed or suicidal can call the Samaritans on 08457 909 090 or email jo@samaritans.org for immediate and confidential support and guidance |