Damian Green

Last updated

[a] 2001–2003

During the 2017 Westminster sexual scandals revelations, a Cabinet Office inquiry was started into allegations Green sent suggestive text messages and "fleetingly" touched the knee of a young Conservative activist. He disputes this, stating it's "absolutely and completely untrue that I’ve ever made any sexual advances on Ms [Kate] Maltby". [53] Both Baroness Kennedy and journalist Rosamund Urwin stated that Maltby had made the claims to them over a year before making them public. Urwin published Facebook messages and time stamps, showing that Maltby had complained to her, and detailed her earlier experience with Green, within four minutes of receiving what she reported as an “inappropriate” text message from Green in 2016. [54] [55]

During this investigation, allegations emerged that pornography had been found on Green's work computer when he was arrested over leaks in 2008. He said this was a "political smear". [56] The police detective computer forensics expert who examined the computer when Green was arrested rebutted this in early December 2017, stating: "The computer was in Mr Green’s office, on his desk, logged in, his account, his name ... it was ridiculous to suggest anybody else could have done it". [57] In December 2017 the police expert was being investigated by Scotland Yard for keeping copies of confidential material, unrelated to the case he was working on, and then releasing it to the public. [58] Green denied that he downloaded or looked at such images. [57] [59] Green said that the claims made by the retired Bob Quick were "political smears". [60] [61] Metropolitan Police Commissioner Paul Stephenson confirmed that he was informed about the matter at the time but regarded it as a "side issue". [62]

On 20 December 2017, Green was removed from his position as First Secretary of State; it was found that he had lied to colleagues over pornography found on his computer. The report concluded that Green's conduct as a minister had "generally been both professional and proper", but that regarding the allegations by Maltby, although the private nature of their meetings meant that it was "not possible to reach a definitive conclusion" regarding his behaviour towards her, the report found her account to be "plausible". [63] In his resignation letter, Green said that he deeply regretted the distress to Maltby that the reaction to her article about him had caused, and although maintaining that he did not recognise the events described in it, he "clearly made her feel uncomfortable" and apologised for doing so. [64] Theresa May had asked him to resign and accepted his resignation. She stated she had "greatly appreciated" his hard work and contribution to her team and that it was "right" that he had apologised to Maltby. [65]

A few days later, Green faced calls to stand down as an MP, following the disclosure of a "dirty tricks" campaign which appeared to target his accuser. [66] It emerged that text messages passed to the Mail on Sunday , allegedly sent between Maltby and Green before she made her complaint, had been edited and rewritten in order to inaccurately suggest that Maltby, rather than Green, had encouraged a continued close relationship and solicited a meeting between the two. [67] After contacting Maltby prior to publication, the Mail on Sunday corrected one series of messages and the newspaper later issued a further post-publication correction acknowledging that it had published a second forged message and falsely attributed it to her. The faked message and subsequent article falsely accused of her of having flirtatiously texted Green that she regretted his absence from his party, because in his stead one of his aides had "been smooching the room on your behalf x". [68]

The Conservative MP Anna Soubry, previously an ally of Green, told the Sunday Times that attempts to smear Maltby were "wrong and shameful". Another Conservative MP said: "It appears that Green's allies barely paused for breath after he apologised for the distress caused to Kate Maltby before launching an attack. It smacks of a dirty tricks campaign and is unhelpful to the government when it is still dealing with the fallout of the Westminster harassment scandal." [67] Maltby and her supporters had accused Green of also being behind a negative, anonymously-briefed attack on her written by the Daily Mail journalist Andrew Pierce. Her parents, in a statement, responded angrily to claims made by Pierce that they disapproved of her actions and condemned "the attempted campaign in certain sections of the media to denigrate and intimidate her and other witnesses". [69]

Writing in the Sunday Times, Maltby alleged that the Daily Mail attack had been coordinated by Green's team and formed part of a broader strategy of witness intimidation. Maltby alleged that two other women had intended to make allegations against Green, but "as a result" of the Daily Mail' coverage of her own complaint, "immediately backed out". [70] In May 2018, the Daily Mail paid £11,000 towards Maltby's legal costs after she prepared to go to court regarding Pierce's article. The article was removed from the Mail's website without an admission of fault. [71]

Publications

Notes

  1. Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee until April 2023.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Davis (British politician)</span> British politician (born 1948)

Sir David Michael Davis is a British Conservative Party politician serving as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Goole and Pocklington. He was previously the MP for Haltemprice and Howden and, before that, for Boothferry, where he was first elected in 1987. He served as Shadow Home Secretary from 2003 to 2008 and Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union from 2016 to 2018. Davis was sworn of the Privy Council in the 1997 New Year Honours, having previously been Minister of State for Europe from 1994 to 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bernard Jenkin</span> British Conservative politician

Sir Bernard Christison Jenkin is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Harwich and North Essex, previously Colchester North, since 1992. He also serves as chair of the Liaison Committee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Owen Paterson</span> British former politician

Owen William Paterson is a British former politician who served as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from 2010 to 2012 and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 2012 to 2014 under Prime Minister David Cameron. A member of the Conservative Party, he served as Member of Parliament (MP) for North Shropshire from 1997 until his resignation in 2021. Paterson was also the President of the Northern Ireland Conservatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grant Shapps</span> British politician (born 1968)

Grant Shapps is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for Defence from August 2023 to July 2024. Shapps previously served in various cabinet posts, including Conservative Party Co-Chairman, Transport Secretary, Home Secretary, Business Secretary, and Energy Secretary under Prime Ministers David Cameron, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak. A member of the Conservative Party, he served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Welwyn Hatfield from 2005 to 2024. He was defeated and lost his seat in the 2024 general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Philp</span> British politician

Christopher Ian Brian Mynott Philp is a British politician who is the current Shadow Leader of the House of Commons since July 2024. He held the post of Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire from October 2022 to July 2024. He was previously appointed to Liz Truss's cabinet from September to October 2022 as Chief Secretary to the Treasury and then as Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General. A member of the Conservative Party, he is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Croydon South following his election in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damian Hinds</span> British politician (born 1969)

Damian Patrick George Hinds is a British Conservative Party politician who has been Member of Parliament (MP) for East Hampshire since 2010. He previously served as Secretary of State for Education under Theresa May from 2018 to 2019; he has also held junior ministerial positions under four Prime Ministers.

Robert Frederick Quick QPM is a British former senior police officer. From 2008 to 2009, he was the Assistant Commissioner of London's Metropolitan Police Service at New Scotland Yard. The role is a key national security post with responsibility for counter-terrorism within the United Kingdom, protection of the Queen and senior members of the British Royal Family, protection of the UK Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers. He also oversaw the protection of visiting heads of state to the UK and the diplomatic community in London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nadhim Zahawi</span> British politician (born 1967)

Nadhim Zahawi is an Iraqi-born British former politician who served in various ministerial positions under prime ministers Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak from 2018 to 2023. He most recently served as Chairman of the Conservative Party and Minister without Portfolio from 25 October 2022 until he was dismissed by Sunak on 29 January 2023. A member of the Conservative Party, he was Member of Parliament (MP) for Stratford-on-Avon from 2010 to 2024. Zahawi is perhaps most noted for being sacked as Conservative Party chairman for failing to adhere to the Ministerial Code, i.e. "to maintain high standards of behaviour and to behave in a way that upholds the highest standards of propriety".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Menzies</span> British politician (born 1971)

Mark Andrew Menzies is a British politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Fylde in Lancashire from 2010 to 2024. As a member of the Conservative Party, he was the parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to Charles Hendry, Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, before both were removed in the 2012 British cabinet reshuffle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Pincher</span> British Conservative politician (born 1969)

Christopher John Pincher is a British former politician and member of the Conservative Party who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamworth from 2010 until his resignation in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michelle Donelan</span> British politician (born 1984)

Michelle Emma May Elizabeth Donelan is a British politician who previously served as Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology from July 2023 to July 2024, having previously served in the position from February to April 2023 before being temporarily replaced during her maternity leave.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Mercer (politician)</span> British former politician

John Luther Mercer is a British Conservative Party politician, former Member of Parliament and former British Army officer who served as Minister of State for Veterans' Affairs from July to September 2022 and from October 2022 to July 2024. He was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence People and Veterans from July 2019 to April 2021. A member of the Conservative Party, Mercer served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Plymouth Moor View from 2015 to 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julian Knight (politician)</span> British politician

Julian Knight is a British politician, author and former journalist who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Solihull from 2015 to 2024. He is a member of the Conservative Party, but sat as an independent from December 2022 for the rest of the term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second May ministry</span> Government of the United Kingdom (2017-2019)

The second May ministry was formed on 11 June 2017 after Theresa May returned to office following the June 2017 snap general election. The election resulted in a hung parliament with the Conservative Party losing its governing majority in the House of Commons. On 9 June 2017, May announced her intention to form a Conservative minority government, reliant on the confidence and supply of the Democratic Unionist Party; a finalised agreement between the two parties was signed and published on 26 June 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Conservative Party leadership election</span> British leadership election to replace Theresa May

The 2019 Conservative Party leadership election was triggered when Theresa May announced on 24 May 2019 that she would resign as leader of the Conservative Party on 7 June and as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom once a successor had been elected. Nominations opened on 10 June; 10 candidates were nominated. The first ballot of members of Parliament (MPs) took place on 13 June, with exhaustive ballots of MPs also taking place on 18, 19 and 20 June, reducing the candidates to two. The general membership of the party elected the leader by postal ballot; the result was announced on 23 July, with Boris Johnson being elected with almost twice as many votes as his opponent Jeremy Hunt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Westminster sexual misconduct allegations</span>

A series of allegations concerning the involvement of British politicians in cases of sexual harassment and assault arose in October and November 2017. Allegations were prompted by discussions among junior staff employed in the UK Parliament at Westminster following the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse allegations in Hollywood earlier in October, and the subsequent rise of the #MeToo movement, but spread further to cover all the major political parties, including political figures beyond Westminster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Holmes (Conservative politician)</span> British Conservative politician (born 1988)

Paul John Holmes is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Hamble Valley since 2024. He was the Member of Parliament for Eastleigh from 2019 to 2024. He has been Shadow Minister for Northern Ireland and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs since July 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Pincher scandal</span> 2022 political controversy in the United Kingdom

The Chris Pincher scandal was a political controversy in the United Kingdom related to allegations of sexual misconduct by the former Conservative Party Deputy Chief Whip, Chris Pincher. In early July 2022, allegations of Pincher's misconduct emerged, including allegations that pre-dated his appointment as Deputy Chief Whip.

References

  1. "Damian Green". BBC News . 21 October 2002. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  2. "Election 2017: Prime Minister and Cabinet appointments". UK Government. 11 June 2017. Archived from the original on 13 June 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  3. Mendick, Robert (16 July 2016). "Theresa May: the highest achiever of all in the starry, Oxford University geography class of '74". The Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Senior Tory arrested over leaks". BBC News. 28 November 2008. Archived from the original on 4 December 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  5. Rayner, Gordon; Hope, Christopher (20 December 2017). "Theresa May's effective deputy Damian Green quits over pornography cover-up". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 20 December 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  6. "Ashford - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  7. Marsden, Sam (12 January 2013). "'Class rivalry among Tories' behind 1977 attack on Damian Green at Oxford". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  8. McSmith, Andy; Peck, Tom (9 January 2013). "Water under the bridge? Attorney General Dominic Grieve 'threw Police minister Damian Green off bridge'.... but it was 35 years ago while the pair were at university". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  9. "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  10. "Politics Resources". Election 1997. Politics Resources. 1 May 1997. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 25 December 2010.
  11. C. Rallings & M. Thrasher, The Media Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies, p.120 (Plymouth: LGC Elections Centre, 1995)
  12. Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons, Westminster (20 May 1997). "House of Commons Hansard Debates". Archived from the original on 14 April 2009. Retrieved 12 January 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. "Ashford Constituency - Election Polling". www.electionpolling.co.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  14. "Past election results from the borough of Ashford". www.ashford.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  15. "2005 - 2005 General Election - Ashford". api.parliament.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  16. "Past election results from the borough of Ashford". www.ashford.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  17. "Ashford.gov.uk" (PDF).
  18. 1 2 "Illegal Migrants Can Return To UK Sooner". Sky News. 16 March 2011. Archived from the original on 23 December 2017.
  19. "Asylum seekers to be asked: will you leave for £3,000?". The Times . 13 January 2006. Archived from the original on 11 December 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  20. McVeigh, Karen; Taylor, Matthew (8 September 2010). "Government climbdown on detention of children in immigration centres". The Guardian.
  21. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  22. Goodenough, Tom (16 February 2016). "Which Tory MPs back Brexit, who doesn't and who is still on the fence?". The Spectator. Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  23. "MP for Ashford". Damian Green. Archived from the original on 29 July 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  24. "Ashford constituency election results - Election Vote". www.electionvote.co.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  25. "Past election results from the borough of Ashford". www.ashford.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  26. "View the Statement or Persons Nominated as candidates for the Ashford constituency". Ashford Borough Council. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  27. "Green calls for Tory compassion". BBC News. 13 September 2004. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
  28. "UK | Q&A: Damian Green affair". BBC News. 12 October 2009. Archived from the original on 13 August 2016. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  29. "Free Director Filings - Damian Green in Iver Heath, Sidcup". directorstats.co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017.
  30. "Watch As John McDonnell Blasts A Top Tory For Making A 'Fortune' Out Of The Water Industry". 21 May 2017. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017.
  31. Morris, Nigel (11 September 2012). "New policing minister Damian Green calls for private sector to take a greater role in police work despite G4S shambles". Independent. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  32. "William Hague quits as a dozen ministers axed in cabinet reshuffle". The Daily Telegraph. 15 July 2014. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  33. Mason, Rowena (15 July 2014). "Five ministers departing David Cameron's team". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 June 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  34. "Crabb resigns as Work and Pensions Secretary". BBC News. 14 July 2016. Archived from the original on 14 July 2016.
  35. "Theresa May carries out Cabinet reshuffle". BBC News. 11 June 2017. Archived from the original on 11 June 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  36. "Tweet".
  37. Allegretti, Aubrey; correspondent, Aubrey Allegretti Political (19 February 2023). "Damian Green rejected as Tory candidate for Weald of Kent". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 24 February 2023.{{cite news}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
  38. "Senior Tory MP Damian Green rejected as candidate in next general election". Sky News. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  39. Dan Wright, "MP Damian Green to stand in Ashford after being rejected for Weald of Kent seat", Kent Online, 28 February 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  40. "Tweet", 31 March 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  41. Winnett, Robert; Kirkup, James (28 November 2008). "Tory shadow minister Damian Green arrested after obtaining leaked documents". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  42. "Q&A: The Damian Green Affair". The Guardian. 4 December 2008. Archived from the original on 8 April 2017.
  43. "Damian Green raid: Pressure on Speaker Michael Martin to go" Archived 10 November 2009 at the Wayback Machine . The Daily Telegraph , 3 December 2008
  44. Elliot, Francis; Ford, Richard (28 November 2008). "Tory frontbench MP Damian Green arrested over leaks". The Times. London. Retrieved 1 December 2008.[ dead link ]
  45. Chakrabarti, Shami (30 November 2008). "This arrest of an MP is a threat to us all". Sunday Times. London. Archived from the original on 31 May 2010. Retrieved 30 November 2008.
  46. "Harman concerned at Green affair". Sky News. 30 November 2008. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 30 November 2008.
  47. "MP's arrest not Stalinist - Smith". BBC News. 30 November 2008. Archived from the original on 3 December 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  48. "MP's home swept for 'police bugs'". BBC News. 5 December 2008. Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
  49. Summers, Deborah (24 April 2009). "Damian Green leaks civil servant sacked". The Guardian . London. Archived from the original on 14 September 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  50. "MP Will not be charged". BBC News. 16 April 2009. Archived from the original on 17 April 2009. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
  51. "MPs' expenses: 25 things you'd never have known". www.telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 December 2017.
  52. Reporters, Telegraph (16 January 2018). "MPs' expenses: Full list of MPs investigated by The Telegraph". Archived from the original on 4 May 2017 via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  53. Weaver, Matthew (1 November 2017). "Damian Green denies making sexual advances towards young Tory activist". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 4 November 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  54. Murphy, Joe (2 November 2017). "Kate Maltby 'told me a year ago about Damian Green', says top QC Baroness Helena Kennedy". London Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  55. Urwin, Rosamund. "My part in the 'Maltby Messages' and why I am revealing them now". The Evening Standard"date=1 December 2017. Archived from the original on 3 December 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  56. "Damian Green says computer porn allegations are 'political smears'". BBC News. 5 November 2017. Archived from the original on 6 November 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  57. 1 2 Danny Shaw (1 December 2017). "Damian Green computer porn claims: 'Thousands' of images viewed". BBC News. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  58. Martin Evans (1 December 2017). "Scotland Yard now investigating retired police officer over Damian Green 'porn' revelations". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  59. Craig, Jon (1 November 2017). "Investigation launched into accusations of inappropriate behaviour by Damian Green". Sky News. Archived from the original on 1 November 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  60. "Senior PM ally Damian Green denies computer porn claims". Archived from the original on 5 November 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  61. "Minister denies computer porn allegations". BBC News. 5 November 2017. Archived from the original on 5 November 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  62. "Police chief 'was told of Damian Green pornography claims'". BBC News. 12 November 2017. Archived from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  63. "SUMMARY OF THE CABINET SECRETARY'S REPORT ON ALLEGATIONS ABOUT DAMIAN GREEN'S CONDUCT" (PDF). Government of the United Kingdom. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 December 2017.
  64. Kentish, Ben. "Damian Green's resignation letter in full: read it here". Archived from the original on 23 December 2017.
  65. Greenfield, Patrick (20 December 2017). "Damian Green resigns as first secretary of state after porn allegations". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 20 December 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  66. Rayner, Gordon (24 December 2017). "Damian Green faces calls to stand down as MP after accusation of 'dirty tricks' against Kate Maltby". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 3 February 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  67. 1 2 Jon Ungoed‑Thomas, Tom Harper, Caroline Wheeler and (24 December 2017). "Damian Green accused of 'dirty tricks' over leaked text messages". The Times. Archived from the original on 3 February 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  68. "MoS corrects story based on Damian Green texts after journalist Maltby says they were 'crudely edited' – Press Gazette". www.pressgazette.co.uk. 2 January 2018. Archived from the original on 3 February 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  69. Martinson, Jane (24 December 2017). "The press's war on Kate Maltby risks a Leveson revival". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2 February 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  70. Maltby, Kate (24 December 2017). "Kate Maltby: I wanted just one word. So, Mr Green, are you sorry now?". The Times. Archived from the original on 3 February 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  71. Elgot, Jessica (23 May 2018). "Daily Mail to pay Kate Maltby £11,000 costs over negative article". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 23 May 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
Damian Green
PC
Official portrait of Rt Hon Damian Green MP crop 2.jpg
Official portrait, 2020
First Secretary of State
In office
11 June 2017 20 December 2017
Succeeded by Dominic Raab [b] Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Skills
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Ashford

19972024
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded byas Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Employment Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Skills
2001–2003
Succeeded by
Preceded by Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
2003–2004
Succeeded byas Shadow Secretary of State for Environment and Transport
Preceded byas Minister of State for Borders and Immigration Minister of State for Immigration
2010–2012
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of State for Policing and Criminal Justice
2012–2014
Succeeded by
Preceded by Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
2016–2017
Succeeded by
Vacant
Title last held by
George Osborne
First Secretary of State
2017
Vacant
Title next held by
Dominic Raab
Preceded by Minister for the Cabinet Office
2017
Succeeded by