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Tory bullying inquiry: the findings in depth Tory bullying inquiry: the findings in depth
(35 minutes later)
The inquiry into bullying in the Conservative party reviewed more than 60,000 documents and interviewed more than 60 people before releasing its findings on Wednesday.The inquiry into bullying in the Conservative party reviewed more than 60,000 documents and interviewed more than 60 people before releasing its findings on Wednesday.
Eighty-two of the 99 people whom the law firm Clifford Chance invited for interview responded. However, at least 12 people whom investigators said they particularly wished to speak to, including alleged victims and perpetrators of bullying, did not give evidence to the inquiry. Eighty-two of the 99 people the law firm Clifford Chance invited for interview responded, but at least 12 whom investigators said they particularly wished to speak to - including alleged victims and perpetrators of bullying - did not give evidence.
The key figure who did not give evidence was Mark Clarke, the former parliamentary candidate at the centre of the inquiry, which was launched three months after the death last year of the Tory activist Elliott Johnson, who claimed in a suicide note that he had been bullied by Clarke. The key figure not to give evidence was Mark Clarke, the former parliamentary candidate at the centre of the inquiry, which was launched three months after the death last year of the Tory activist Elliott Johnson. He claimed in a suicide note that Clarke had bullied him.
Related: Tory bullying inquiry finds 13 alleged victims of Mark ClarkeRelated: Tory bullying inquiry finds 13 alleged victims of Mark Clarke
The inquiry identified 13 alleged victims of bullying by Clarke between 1 January 2014 and 14 August 2015, and six specific allegations of sexually inappropriate behaviour relating to Clarke, including allegations that he had propositioned activists or tried to kiss them. The inquiry identified 13 alleged victims of bullying by Clarke between 1 January 2014 and 14 August 2015, and six specific allegations of sexually inappropriate behaviour, including allegations that he had propositioned activists or tried to kiss them.
Clarke’s solicitor said he had co-operated with the police “and any other statutory body charged with investigating any matters relating to the subject matter of Clifford Chance’s investigation on behalf of the Conservative party board”. He said it was not appropriate to respond to allegations until the end of the police inquiry. Clarke’s solicitor said he had cooperated with the police “and any other statutory body charged with investigating any matters relating to the subject matter of Clifford Chance’s investigation on behalf of the Conservative party board”. He said it was not appropriate to respond to allegations until the end of the police inquiry.
The solicitor said: “However, the allegations made against Mr Clarke in the Clifford Chance report are wholly untrue and unsubstantiated. Many are based on totally fabricated media reports. All these allegations are vehemently denied.”The solicitor said: “However, the allegations made against Mr Clarke in the Clifford Chance report are wholly untrue and unsubstantiated. Many are based on totally fabricated media reports. All these allegations are vehemently denied.”
Johnson’s parents also declined to be interviewed by Clifford Chance, and their solicitors told the firm their clients “would neither support nor participate in the investigation because they had concluded that it did not appear to be independent or transparent”. Johnson’s parents also declined to be interviewed by Clifford Chance. Their solicitors told the firm their clients “would neither support nor participate in the investigation because they had concluded that it did not appear to be independent or transparent”.
The inquiry found flaws in the party’s complaints procedure, including the lack of a mechanism by which to make a complaint to CCHQ. No confidential telephone line or email address existed to which complaints might be directed, and no log was made of complaints. The inquiry found flaws in the party’s complaints procedure, including the lack of a mechanism to make a complaint to CCHQ. No confidential telephone line or email address existed to which complaints might be directed, and no log was made of complaints.
Clarke’s candidate file from when he stood as a candidate for Tooting MP in the 2010 general election did not include allegations of bullying or harassment of young activists but did include reports of aggressive and bullying conduct towards his campaign director, the inquiry report says. Clarke’s candidate file from when he stood as a candidate for Tooting in the 2010 general election did not include allegations of bullying or harassment of young activists, but did include reports of aggressive and bullying conduct towards his campaign director, the inquiry report says.
During a meeting with the then party co-chair Grant Shapps in 2014, Clarke claimed he had “settled down and wanted a second chance to get back on the candidates list”. Both Shapps and his chief of staff, Paul Abbott, believed Clarke had made a compelling case, and Clarke was appointed director of RoadTrip2015 . During a meeting with the then party co-chair Grant Shapps in 2014, Clarke said he had “settled down and wanted a second chance to get back on the candidates list”. Both Shapps and his chief of staff, Paul Abbott, believed Clarke had made a compelling case, and he was appointed director of RoadTrip2015 .
After the 2015 election Robert Halfon, a deputy chair, lobbied Andrew Feldman, who was now the party’s chair, about giving Clarke a job. “In an email dated 12 May 2015 to a former CCHQ colleague, Lord Feldman said he had been approached by Mr Halfon about providing Mr Clarke with a role in CCHQ. No role was offered,” the report says. After the 2015 election Robert Halfon, a deputy chair, lobbied Andrew Feldman, who was now the party’s chair, to give Clarke a job. “In an email dated 12 May 2015 to a former CCHQ colleague, Lord Feldman said he had been approached by Mr Halfon about providing Mr Clarke with a role in CCHQ. No role was offered,” the report says.
Of the 13 people who were identified as alleged victims of bullying, harassment or inappropriate conduct by Clarke reported to CCHQ between January 2014 and August 2015, six of the complaints had been raised in a way that they would not have been treated as formal, the report says. Of the 13 people identified as alleged victims of bullying, harassment or inappropriate conduct by Clarke reported to CCHQ between January 2014 and August 2015, six of the complaints had been raised in a way that they would not have been treated as formal, the report says.
For seven of the alleged victims, the report says it is debatable whether it was truly bullying or harassment, because the issue had been quasi-political or the victim was either older or the contemporary of Clarke. For seven of the alleged victims, the report says it is debatable whether it was truly bullying or harassment, because the issue had been quasi-political or the victim was either older or a contemporary of Clarke.
The report notes that many interviewees who attended RoadTrip events were positive about their experiences and said they had not personally observed bullying, harassment or inappropriate behaviour by Clarke or anyone else.The report notes that many interviewees who attended RoadTrip events were positive about their experiences and said they had not personally observed bullying, harassment or inappropriate behaviour by Clarke or anyone else.
The inquiry found six specific allegations of sexually inappropriate behaviour by Clarke. The report touches on other examples of alleged inappropriate behaviour during the RoadTrip events organised by Clarke. One separate allegation of sexual assault not by Clarke was made during a RoadTrip event. Abbott forwarded the complaint to CCHQ’s secretary to the board’s disciplinary sub-committee, who never met the complainant, and the issue was never investigated. The inquiry found six specific allegations of sexually inappropriate behaviour by Clarke. The report touches on other examples of alleged inappropriate behaviour during the RoadTrip events he organised. One separate allegation of sexual assault not by Clarke was made during a RoadTrip event. Abbott forwarded the complaint to CCHQ’s secretary to the board’s disciplinary sub-committee, who never met the complainant, and the issue was never investigated.
Other complaints were made to Abbott about Clarke’s behaviour, some of which he dismissed a “internal quarrelling”. One involved Clarke and some of his associates allegedly threatening another party member in an attempt to influence the choice of candidates in a Conservative Future election, which Clarke denied.Other complaints were made to Abbott about Clarke’s behaviour, some of which he dismissed a “internal quarrelling”. One involved Clarke and some of his associates allegedly threatening another party member in an attempt to influence the choice of candidates in a Conservative Future election, which Clarke denied.
Johnson wrote a letter of complaint about Clarke after an incident in a pub when Clarke was said to have been rude and aggressive towards him while he was an employee of Conservative Way Forward, working for Abbott. The letter was accompanied by a separate document written by a colleague of Johnson’s raising a variety of allegations.Johnson wrote a letter of complaint about Clarke after an incident in a pub when Clarke was said to have been rude and aggressive towards him while he was an employee of Conservative Way Forward, working for Abbott. The letter was accompanied by a separate document written by a colleague of Johnson’s raising a variety of allegations.
Both were raised with Feldman, Lord Gilbert, another deputy chair, and Simon Day, then chief executive. The complaint was investigated by Simon Mort, then chair of the disciplinary sub-committee. Johnson later said he wished to withdraw his complaint.Both were raised with Feldman, Lord Gilbert, another deputy chair, and Simon Day, then chief executive. The complaint was investigated by Simon Mort, then chair of the disciplinary sub-committee. Johnson later said he wished to withdraw his complaint.
Related: Elliott Johnson: the young Tory destroyed by the party he lovedRelated: Elliott Johnson: the young Tory destroyed by the party he loved
The report says Clarke had become aware of the names of people being interviewed in response to the complaint, but found no evidence for the allegation that they had been leaked to him at CCHQ. Mort had not concluded his investigation when Johnson died on 15 September.The report says Clarke had become aware of the names of people being interviewed in response to the complaint, but found no evidence for the allegation that they had been leaked to him at CCHQ. Mort had not concluded his investigation when Johnson died on 15 September.
Abbott, Shapps’ former adviser, was not “full and frank” with members of the party’s executive about Clarke’s involvement in potential misconduct, the report says.Abbott, Shapps’ former adviser, was not “full and frank” with members of the party’s executive about Clarke’s involvement in potential misconduct, the report says.
When solicitors examined potential irregularities in the 2014 Conservative Future national executive election, Abbott told Shapps that the names had been uploaded on to the party’s voter database without the involvement or authority of Abbott and his team, and that Clarke insisted the list of names had not come from him.When solicitors examined potential irregularities in the 2014 Conservative Future national executive election, Abbott told Shapps that the names had been uploaded on to the party’s voter database without the involvement or authority of Abbott and his team, and that Clarke insisted the list of names had not come from him.
However, an earlier email exchange between Clarke, Abbott and a third party showed that Abbott was aware of how the names had come to be uploaded into the party’s voter database, and that Clarke had arranged for the names to be uploaded. An earlier email exchange between Clarke, Abbott and a third party showed, however, that Abbott was aware of how the names had come to be uploaded into the party’s voter database, and that Clarke had arranged for the names to be uploaded.