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| Elliott Johnson: police report 'used to deflect Tory bullying claims' | Elliott Johnson: police report 'used to deflect Tory bullying claims' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The father of Elliott Johnson, the Tory activist who is believed to have killed himself, has said a police report into his son’s death is being used to deflect attention from the bullying he suffered at the hands of Conservative party members. | The father of Elliott Johnson, the Tory activist who is believed to have killed himself, has said a police report into his son’s death is being used to deflect attention from the bullying he suffered at the hands of Conservative party members. |
| Ray Johnson said he has been left with no choice but to release further extracts from a note left by his son on the day of his death to disprove reports that he and his wife Alison had “rowed” with Elliott about his sexuality. | Ray Johnson said he has been left with no choice but to release further extracts from a note left by his son on the day of his death to disprove reports that he and his wife Alison had “rowed” with Elliott about his sexuality. |
| Elliott Johnson, 21, was found dead on railway tracks last September after leaving a letter in which he alleged Tory election aide Mark Clarke and others had bullied him. Clarke has previously denied the allegations. | Elliott Johnson, 21, was found dead on railway tracks last September after leaving a letter in which he alleged Tory election aide Mark Clarke and others had bullied him. Clarke has previously denied the allegations. |
| Related: Elliott Johnson: the young Tory destroyed by the party he loved | Related: Elliott Johnson: the young Tory destroyed by the party he loved |
| “Elliott’s sexuality had nothing to do the fact that Elliott was being bullied and harassed by people like Clarke,” Johnson said. | “Elliott’s sexuality had nothing to do the fact that Elliott was being bullied and harassed by people like Clarke,” Johnson said. |
| Lawyers for Elliott’s parents will argue at a hearing in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, on Wednesday, that the inquest into their son’s death should be broadened to examine the claims of bullying and harassment. | Lawyers for Elliott’s parents will argue at a hearing in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, on Wednesday, that the inquest into their son’s death should be broadened to examine the claims of bullying and harassment. |
| A file, prepared by British Transport police and submitted to a coroner ahead of Wednesday’s hearing, which made reference to Elliott’s sexuality and previous history of depression, was obtained by the Daily Mail on Friday. It also detailed three incidents five to six years ago when it was feared Elliott had attempted to take his own life. There is no suggestion that the report was leaked by the police. | |
| Johnson told the Guardian: “I’m certain that it’s been put out to try to deflect attention from last September to say ‘here’s a young man who was likely to commit suicide because of his past history’. The past history was five or six years prior. Since those instances, he’d gone on to university and there were no further instances, no further issues with regards to mental health. He had matured. He was a young man. He’d moved on. He was looking forward to his life as a political journalist. I think what happened in September was completely unrelated to what happened five or six years earlier.” | Johnson told the Guardian: “I’m certain that it’s been put out to try to deflect attention from last September to say ‘here’s a young man who was likely to commit suicide because of his past history’. The past history was five or six years prior. Since those instances, he’d gone on to university and there were no further instances, no further issues with regards to mental health. He had matured. He was a young man. He’d moved on. He was looking forward to his life as a political journalist. I think what happened in September was completely unrelated to what happened five or six years earlier.” |
| Elliott’s parents decided to release further extracts of his suicide note in order to show their son did not make reference to his sexuality in his final letter and expressed love towards his family. Johnson said: “We have released details of the suicide note,” Johnson said. “Some reports said Elliott made reference to his sexuality in the note. I can tell you there is no reference whatsoever to Elliott’s sexuality in his suicide note. Not one reference. That’s a complete fabrication. Another allegation is that the police report says we’d rowed with Elliott – that is not in the police report. Someone has taken the report and twisted it to suit their own objectives.” | Elliott’s parents decided to release further extracts of his suicide note in order to show their son did not make reference to his sexuality in his final letter and expressed love towards his family. Johnson said: “We have released details of the suicide note,” Johnson said. “Some reports said Elliott made reference to his sexuality in the note. I can tell you there is no reference whatsoever to Elliott’s sexuality in his suicide note. Not one reference. That’s a complete fabrication. Another allegation is that the police report says we’d rowed with Elliott – that is not in the police report. Someone has taken the report and twisted it to suit their own objectives.” |
| Johnson said he and his wife Alison, who live in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, had been made aware of Elliott’s sexuality five to six years ago when he was a teenager. “He was upset at the time,” Johnson said. “He came to us and said he wasn’t sure about his sexuality. He said he liked girls, but he said he liked boys as well. He got really upset about it. We spent several days talking to him, getting him to understand he was young, only 16, not quite 17, we said in a few years time, when you’re older and more mature you’ll know. In the meantime, don’t worry about it.” | Johnson said he and his wife Alison, who live in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, had been made aware of Elliott’s sexuality five to six years ago when he was a teenager. “He was upset at the time,” Johnson said. “He came to us and said he wasn’t sure about his sexuality. He said he liked girls, but he said he liked boys as well. He got really upset about it. We spent several days talking to him, getting him to understand he was young, only 16, not quite 17, we said in a few years time, when you’re older and more mature you’ll know. In the meantime, don’t worry about it.” |
| Johnson said he was hopeful the the scope of the inquest would be broadened but it was ultimately down to the coroner. In the meantime, he and his family continue to struggle with the loss of their son. “It’s a rollercoaster,” Johnson said. “Some days we kind of cope, other days we can’t cope. We’ve got two daughters to think of. We have the justice for Elliott to think of.” | Johnson said he was hopeful the the scope of the inquest would be broadened but it was ultimately down to the coroner. In the meantime, he and his family continue to struggle with the loss of their son. “It’s a rollercoaster,” Johnson said. “Some days we kind of cope, other days we can’t cope. We’ve got two daughters to think of. We have the justice for Elliott to think of.” |
| Elliott also alleged a lobby journalist and former political adviser Andre Walker had “betrayed” him in his final letter. Clarke and Walker were both secretly recorded by Elliott during a confrontation in a pub, during which Walker uses aggressive language towards Elliott. Walker appeared on BBC Sunday Politics denying claims he was bullying Elliott and said he had been vilified and unable to grieve for Elliott. | Elliott also alleged a lobby journalist and former political adviser Andre Walker had “betrayed” him in his final letter. Clarke and Walker were both secretly recorded by Elliott during a confrontation in a pub, during which Walker uses aggressive language towards Elliott. Walker appeared on BBC Sunday Politics denying claims he was bullying Elliott and said he had been vilified and unable to grieve for Elliott. |
| • In the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. Hotlines in other countries can be found here. | • In the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. Hotlines in other countries can be found here. |