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Damian Green sacked from cabinet after breaching ministerial code Damian Green sacked from cabinet after breaching ministerial code
(35 minutes later)
Damian Green, one of Theresa May's closest allies, has been sacked from the cabinet after an inquiry found he had breached the ministerial code.Damian Green, one of Theresa May's closest allies, has been sacked from the cabinet after an inquiry found he had breached the ministerial code.
He was "asked to quit" after he was found to have made "inaccurate and misleading" statements about what he knew about claims pornography was found on a computer in his office in 2008.He was "asked to quit" after he was found to have made "inaccurate and misleading" statements about what he knew about claims pornography was found on a computer in his office in 2008.
In his resignation letter, Mr Green apologised for his actions. He apologised for this and for making writer Kate Maltby feel uncomfortable.
BBC's Laura Kuennsberg said the PM "had little choice but to ask him to go". Laura Kuenssberg said the PM "had little choice but to ask him to go".
In her written response, Mrs May expressed "deep regret" at his departure. The BBC's political editor said the departure of a close friend left Mrs May a "lonelier figure".
Mr Green, who as first secretary of state was the PM's deputy, had been under investigation regarding allegations of inappropriate conduct. In her written response, Mrs May expressed "deep regret" at his departure but said his actions "fell short" of the conduct expected of a cabinet minister.
He denied suggestions that he made unwanted advances to a female journalist, Kate Maltby, in 2015 and viewed pornography on a computer in his Commons office in 2008. The 61-year old is the third cabinet minister to resign in the space of two months, Michael Fallon and Priti Patel having both stood down in November.
An official report by the Cabinet Office found that statements he had made about being unaware pornographic material had been found on his computer were "inaccurate and misleading" and as such fell short of the ministerial code. Mr Green, who as first secretary of state was effectively the PM's deputy, had been under investigation regarding allegations of inappropriate conduct.
He has denied suggestions that he made unwanted advances to a female journalist, Kate Maltby, in 2015 and either downloaded or viewed pornography on a computer removed from his Commons office in 2008.
An official report by the Cabinet Office found that statements he had made about being unaware pornographic material had been found on a computer in his office were "inaccurate and misleading" and constituted a breach of the ministerial code.
The report also found that although there were "competing and contradictory accounts of what were private meetings" between himself and Ms Maltby, the investigation found her account "to be plausible".The report also found that although there were "competing and contradictory accounts of what were private meetings" between himself and Ms Maltby, the investigation found her account "to be plausible".
Her parents, Colin and Victoria Maltby, said in a statement they were not surprised to find that the inquiry found Mr Green to have been "untruthful as a minister, nor to that they found our daughter to be a plausible witness".Her parents, Colin and Victoria Maltby, said in a statement they were not surprised to find that the inquiry found Mr Green to have been "untruthful as a minister, nor to that they found our daughter to be a plausible witness".
They praised their 31-year-old daughter for her courage in speaking out about the "abuse of authority".They praised their 31-year-old daughter for her courage in speaking out about the "abuse of authority".
Ms Maltby is not commenting on Mr Green's resignation until she receives more details from the Cabinet Office.Ms Maltby is not commenting on Mr Green's resignation until she receives more details from the Cabinet Office.
In his letter, Mr Green said he accepted statements he made about what he knew about the pornography investigation could have been "clearer", conceding his lawyers had been informed about the original discovery in 2008 and the police had raised the matter within him in a phone call in 2013. In his letter, Mr Green said he accepted statements he made about what he knew about the pornography could have been "clearer", conceding his lawyers had been informed by lawyers for the Met Police about their discovery in 2008 and the police had raised the matter within him in a phone call in 2013.
"I apologise that my statements were misleading on this point," he said."I apologise that my statements were misleading on this point," he said.
May a lonelier figure tonightMay a lonelier figure tonight
Analysis by the BBC's political editor Laura KuenssbergAnalysis by the BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg
Damian Green has never been a politician with a huge public persona, or even a hugely well-known character.Damian Green has never been a politician with a huge public persona, or even a hugely well-known character.
But he was an extremely important ally of Theresa May. Not just a political friend but a genuine one, close to her for decades.But he was an extremely important ally of Theresa May. Not just a political friend but a genuine one, close to her for decades.
The government, so the joke in Westminster goes, has become "weak and stable", with number 10 taking back some control of the agenda in recent weeks.The government, so the joke in Westminster goes, has become "weak and stable", with number 10 taking back some control of the agenda in recent weeks.
So it is not likely that Mr Green's exit will suddenly unleash another bout of turmoil.So it is not likely that Mr Green's exit will suddenly unleash another bout of turmoil.
But the prime minister clearly took this decision very seriously.But the prime minister clearly took this decision very seriously.
She is a politician who guards her views, her own persona very closely. To lose one of the few who understood her, who she trusts, leaves her a lonelier figure tonight.She is a politician who guards her views, her own persona very closely. To lose one of the few who understood her, who she trusts, leaves her a lonelier figure tonight.
Read Laura's full blogRead Laura's full blog
In her reply, the PM said while the report had found his conduct to "professional and proper" in general, it was right that he had apologised for making Ms Maltby "feel uncomfortable".
She added: "While I can understand the considerable distress caused to you by some of the allegations made in the past few weeks, I know that you share my commitment to maintaining the high standards that the public demands of ministers of the crown.
"It is therefore with deep regret that I asked you to resign from the government and have accepted your resignation."
Mr Green's political future has been in question since journalist and Conservative activist Ms Maltby suggested he had behaved inappropriately towards her in an article last month for the Times.Mr Green's political future has been in question since journalist and Conservative activist Ms Maltby suggested he had behaved inappropriately towards her in an article last month for the Times.
She claimed the minister "fleetingly" touched her knee in a pub in 2015 and in 2016 sent her a "suggestive" text message which left her feeling "awkward, embarrassed and professionally compromised".She claimed the minister "fleetingly" touched her knee in a pub in 2015 and in 2016 sent her a "suggestive" text message which left her feeling "awkward, embarrassed and professionally compromised".
Mr Green, who is an acquaintance of the journalist's parents, said the claims were "hurtful" and "completely false".Mr Green, who is an acquaintance of the journalist's parents, said the claims were "hurtful" and "completely false".
But they were referred to the Cabinet Office for investigation by a top civil servant - who is examining other claims that emerged during a swirl of allegations about harassment and other misconduct at Westminster.But they were referred to the Cabinet Office for investigation by a top civil servant - who is examining other claims that emerged during a swirl of allegations about harassment and other misconduct at Westminster.
The inquiry was subsequently expanded to consider claims that legal pornography was found on a computer removed from Mr Green's office in the House of Commons in 2008.The inquiry was subsequently expanded to consider claims that legal pornography was found on a computer removed from Mr Green's office in the House of Commons in 2008.
The computer was one of a number of possessions seized by the police during a controversial inquiry into the leaking of official documents by a civil servant to Mr Green, at the time a shadow Home Office minister under David Cameron.The computer was one of a number of possessions seized by the police during a controversial inquiry into the leaking of official documents by a civil servant to Mr Green, at the time a shadow Home Office minister under David Cameron.