Minister given 'categorical assurance' Boris Johnson did not know about Chris Pincher allegations before hiring him

July 04, 2022

Education minister Will Quince says he has been given "categorical assurance" from Number 10 that Boris Johnson was "not aware of any serious specific allegations" against his disgraced former deputy chief whip, Chris Pincher, when he was appointed.

Mr Pincher quit the role last week after he was accused of drunkenly groping two men at a private members' club in London on Wednesday.

The Tory whip was only removed from him on Friday afternoon - meaning he now sits as an independent MP.

It was the second time the MP for Tamworth in Staffordshire resigned from the whips office, after Conservative candidate Alex Story accused him of making an inappropriate advance in 2017.

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But questions have been raised about what the prime minister knew before appointing Mr Pincher in February, with allegations Mr Johnson referred to the MP as "Pincher by name, pincher by nature" beforehand.

Speaking to Sky News' Kay Burley, Mr Quince said it was a "fair question" and one he put to No 10 "firmly and clearly" before going on air.

He added: "I've been given categorical assurance that the prime minister was not aware of any serious specific allegation with regards to the former deputy chief whip."

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