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| Alun Cairns row 'shows why women do not report rape' | Alun Cairns row 'shows why women do not report rape' |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The victim in the collapsed rape trial that led to Alun Cairns' resignation as Welsh secretary said the case shows why women do not alert police. | The victim in the collapsed rape trial that led to Alun Cairns' resignation as Welsh secretary said the case shows why women do not alert police. |
| Mr Cairns said he did not know about a former aide's involvement in the collapse of her trial until last week. | Mr Cairns said he did not know about a former aide's involvement in the collapse of her trial until last week. |
| But he resigned after BBC Wales obtained an email sent to him discussing the case over a year ago. | But he resigned after BBC Wales obtained an email sent to him discussing the case over a year ago. |
| The Welsh Conservative Party chairman said: "If we find that we have to apologise, then we will apologise". | |
| Lord Davies of Gower, who has been the chairman of the party in Wales since 2017, said he "deeply regrets" that the situation has arisen, but added: "There will be an apology if I find out that one should be forthcoming. | |
| "I'm very sorry that this has happened to her. There is nothing I can do about it. It all happened before I became chairman of the party. I deeply regret it and I will deal with it very sympathetically," he added. | |
| The victim called for Mr Cairns to quit as an election candidate. Mr Cairns has been asked to comment. | |
| The politician, who still intends to stand for election in the Vale of Glamorgan, denies any wrongdoing. | The politician, who still intends to stand for election in the Vale of Glamorgan, denies any wrongdoing. |
| The Conservative Party had said Mr Cairns was "completely unaware" until last week of the details of the case, which collapsed in April 2018 when his former aide Ross England, a witness, was accused by the trial judge of deliberate sabotage. | The Conservative Party had said Mr Cairns was "completely unaware" until last week of the details of the case, which collapsed in April 2018 when his former aide Ross England, a witness, was accused by the trial judge of deliberate sabotage. |
| But an email shows Mr Cairns received an update regarding the aide's situation in August 2018. | But an email shows Mr Cairns received an update regarding the aide's situation in August 2018. |
| Four months later, Mr England was selected to represent the Conservative Party in the Vale of Glamorgan for the 2021 Welsh assembly election. | Four months later, Mr England was selected to represent the Conservative Party in the Vale of Glamorgan for the 2021 Welsh assembly election. |
| "It is because of situations like this that women don't come forward and report rape," the victim - who cannot be named for legal reasons and who previously worked in Mr Cairns' constituency office - told BBC Wales. | "It is because of situations like this that women don't come forward and report rape," the victim - who cannot be named for legal reasons and who previously worked in Mr Cairns' constituency office - told BBC Wales. |
| "I think Alun Cairns did the right thing resigning," she said. "However, I feel that the way he has handled this does not reflect well on the Conservative Party and raises serious questions as to whether he's a suitable candidate to be standing in the general election. | "I think Alun Cairns did the right thing resigning," she said. "However, I feel that the way he has handled this does not reflect well on the Conservative Party and raises serious questions as to whether he's a suitable candidate to be standing in the general election. |
| "What he did was to minimise my experience as a rape victim. | "What he did was to minimise my experience as a rape victim. |
| "He was aware that Ross England had delayed my right to justice and made me go through another trial and still felt that he was a suitable candidate. | "He was aware that Ross England had delayed my right to justice and made me go through another trial and still felt that he was a suitable candidate. |
| "This brings into question his judgment and the party's judgment." | "This brings into question his judgment and the party's judgment." |
| In his resignation letter, Mr Cairns said: "This is a very sensitive matter, and in light of continued speculation, I write to tender my resignation as secretary of state for Wales. | In his resignation letter, Mr Cairns said: "This is a very sensitive matter, and in light of continued speculation, I write to tender my resignation as secretary of state for Wales. |
| "I will co-operate in full with the investigation under the ministerial code which will now take place and I am confident I will be cleared of any breach or wrong doing." | "I will co-operate in full with the investigation under the ministerial code which will now take place and I am confident I will be cleared of any breach or wrong doing." |
| Following Mr England's selection to stand as an AM, Mr Cairns endorsed the candidate as a "friend and colleague" with whom "it will be a pleasure to campaign". | Following Mr England's selection to stand as an AM, Mr Cairns endorsed the candidate as a "friend and colleague" with whom "it will be a pleasure to campaign". |
| Mr England was suspended from his candidacy and his employment with the Conservative Party last week. | Mr England was suspended from his candidacy and his employment with the Conservative Party last week. |
| At the rape trial Mr England, giving evidence, made claims he had had a casual sexual relationship with the victim, which she has denied. | At the rape trial Mr England, giving evidence, made claims he had had a casual sexual relationship with the victim, which she has denied. |
| The judge Stephen John Hopkins had earlier told the trial evidence of the sexual history of the victim was inadmissible. | The judge Stephen John Hopkins had earlier told the trial evidence of the sexual history of the victim was inadmissible. |
| He told Mr England: "You have managed single-handed, and I have no doubt it was deliberate on your part, to sabotage this trial… get out of my court." | He told Mr England: "You have managed single-handed, and I have no doubt it was deliberate on your part, to sabotage this trial… get out of my court." |
| The defendant James Hackett, a friend of Mr England's, was subsequently convicted of rape at a retrial. | The defendant James Hackett, a friend of Mr England's, was subsequently convicted of rape at a retrial. |
| Pressure on Cairns to quit | Pressure on Cairns to quit |
| Mr Cairns is facing further pressure to resign his candidacy for the Vale of Glamorgan in the upcoming general election from other parties. | Mr Cairns is facing further pressure to resign his candidacy for the Vale of Glamorgan in the upcoming general election from other parties. |
| On Wednesday, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn questioned the "moral right" of Mr Cairns to stand as a candidate in the election, while Plaid Cymru's Liz Saville Roberts said he should do the "honourable thing" and withdraw. | On Wednesday, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn questioned the "moral right" of Mr Cairns to stand as a candidate in the election, while Plaid Cymru's Liz Saville Roberts said he should do the "honourable thing" and withdraw. |
| Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds said he was "not fit to represent Wales". | Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds said he was "not fit to represent Wales". |
| Assembly Tory leader Paul Davies has distanced himself from Ross England, saying he had fallen short of the standards expected of a Conservative candidate. | Assembly Tory leader Paul Davies has distanced himself from Ross England, saying he had fallen short of the standards expected of a Conservative candidate. |
| Shazia Awan-Scully, a former Conservative Party member who ran to be an MP in 2010, said the actions of the party "alienate women". | |
| "It says everything about the moral state of the party right now that the prime minister thinks it's okay for Alun Cairns to stand as a candidate I think it's absolutely disgraceful," she added. | |
| Other candidates standing in the Vale of Glamorgan include Sally Stephenson, for the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Belinda Loveluck-Edwards for Welsh Labour and Ian Johnson, for Plaid Cymru. | Other candidates standing in the Vale of Glamorgan include Sally Stephenson, for the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Belinda Loveluck-Edwards for Welsh Labour and Ian Johnson, for Plaid Cymru. |
| The close of nominations is 14 November. | The close of nominations is 14 November. |