A TORY Minister has quit after reportedly sending thousands of “depraved” text messages to two young female constituents.
Andrew Griffiths, 47, resigned for “personal reasons” after reports surfaced that he had sent 2000 sexually explicit and “sadomasochistic” messages to the women.
In a statement, Griffiths, a former chief of staff to Theresa May, apologised to his local Conservative Party and to his constituents. “I am deeply ashamed at my behaviour which has caused untold distress to my wife and family, to whom I owe everything, and deep embarrassment to the Prime Minister and the Government I am so proud to serve,” the statement read.
“Following discussions with the Chief Whip, I have referred myself to the Conservative Party’s code of conduct procedures. I entirely accept that pending this investigation it is right the whip is withdrawn.
“I do not seek to excuse my behaviour and will be seeking professional help to ensure it never happens again. In time, I hope to earn the forgiveness of all those who put their trust in me and that I have let down so terribly.
"The Prime Minister and the Government she leads will continue to have my full support.”
The former minister for small business is the fourth member of the Government to step down in a week, following the departure of David Davis and Boris Johnson from the Cabinet, as well as junior Brexit minister Steve Baker.
Griffiths’s resignation comes after UK politics was rocked by the so-called pestminster sleaze scandal that saw a number of male MPs accused of inappropriate behaviour. A wave of allegations began to surface in October last year when four male MPs were accused of harassing or propositioning young women inappropriately. The furore that enveloped Westminster as more allegations emerged eventually saw the resignation of several big names.
Sir Michael Fallon was one of the first to step down when he resigned as defence secretary. He admitted to once touching a journalist’s knee and acknowledged that “in the past I have fallen below the high standards we require of the armed forces”.
In December Damian Green was sacked as First Secretary of State over “misleading” statements about computer porn allegations dating back to 2008. An inquiry began after a journalist accused Green of sending her an inappropriate message and touching her on the knee in 2015.
The scandal had consequences north of the Border, where Mark McDonald, the Scottish Government minister for childcare and early years, resigned over actions he said had been “considered to be inappropriate”. He now sits in Holyrood as an independent MSP.
Before last year’s revelations, Stephen Crabb resigned as work and pensions secretary after sending suggestive messages to a young woman. He was later cleared of breaching party rules after an investigation found that, while his behaviour fell short of the party’s standards and was “inappropriate”, it did not constitute harassment.
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