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Conservative activist Elliott Johnson killed himself, coroner rules Conservative activist Elliott Johnson killed himself, coroner rules
(35 minutes later)
A coroner has ruled that the young Conservative activist Elliott Johnson, who made allegations of bullying within the party weeks before his death, took his own life.A coroner has ruled that the young Conservative activist Elliott Johnson, who made allegations of bullying within the party weeks before his death, took his own life.
Giving his verdict on Tuesday, senior Bedfordshire and Luton coroner Tom Osborne said he was satisfied Johnson intended to take his own life.
Johnson, 21, was found on railway tracks near Sandy in Bedfordshire on 15 September last year. He left behind three letters, one of which said a former parliamentary candidate, Mark Clarke, had bullied him and that a political journalist, Andre Walker, had betrayed him. Both Clarke and Walker strongly deny the allegations.Johnson, 21, was found on railway tracks near Sandy in Bedfordshire on 15 September last year. He left behind three letters, one of which said a former parliamentary candidate, Mark Clarke, had bullied him and that a political journalist, Andre Walker, had betrayed him. Both Clarke and Walker strongly deny the allegations.
Giving his verdict on Tuesday, senior Bedfordshire and Luton coroner Tom Osborne said he was satisfied Mr Johnson intended to take his own life. The inquest in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, focused on the fact that Johnson believed he was being bullied and on his being made redundant by pressure group Conservative Way Forward (CWF) shortly after making the allegation.
After Johnson’s death, whistleblowers came forward describing a culture of bullying and sleaze among Tory party activists.After Johnson’s death, whistleblowers came forward describing a culture of bullying and sleaze among Tory party activists.
Osborne has refused to examine allegations of bullying in the party as part of the inquest but agreed to investigate Johnson’s employment relationship with the pressure group Conservative Way Forward (CWF). Paul Abbott, former chief executive of the CWF, told the packed inquest that Clarke harboured a “vendetta” against CWF, and there had been other complaints by the group’s volunteers against him.
Johnson’s father, Ray, said he believed Clarke had “ruined” his son’s career. He said: “We were unaware of, at the time, a victimisation campaign by Mr Clarke towards Elliott and other members of the Conservative Way Forward, which was getting steadily worse.”
Osborne has refused to examine allegations of bullying in the party as part of the inquest but agreed to investigate Johnson’s employment relationship with CWF.
He said it was “beyond the proper scope” of the inquest to call Tory party members to interrogate them over steps being taken to investigate bullying claims.He said it was “beyond the proper scope” of the inquest to call Tory party members to interrogate them over steps being taken to investigate bullying claims.
•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.