A journalist who was touched on the knee by Sir Michael Fallon has described the Defence Secretary's resignation as "ridiculous".
Sir Michael apologised to Ms Hartley-Brewer on Monday, after it emerged he "overstepped the mark" with the commentator at a Tory party conference dinner in 2002.
Reacting to news of the Defence Secretary's resignation, Ms Hartley-Brewer told Sky News she was "incredibly shocked".
She said: "If this is over kneegate, him touching my knee 15 years ago and me not having any issue with it today, this is the most insane, absurd and ridiculous resignation of a cabinet minister ever.
"However I don't think that is the reason."
She added: "I doubt very much if one of the standards they require in the armed forces means that no man in the military has ever touched the knee of a younger woman.
"I think he has been a very good Defence Secretary and I'm sad that a leading member of this Government has fallen at a time when this Government is on very shaky ground.
"I want a Government that can run the country and push through Brexit."
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