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Westminster harassment: Who is accused of what?

Explosive sexual harassment claims have rocked British polit..

Explosive sexual harassment claims have rocked British politics and left party leaders scrambling to do something about a toxic culture at Westminster.

The scandal has already claimed the scalp of the Defence Secretary and many believe the allegations so far are just the beginning.

Here is a summary of the main allegations made so far against prominent political figures.

Conservative

:: Damian Green

A Whitehall inquiry is looking into claims that Mr Green behaved inappropriately to a journalist and that pornographic material was found on one of his parliamentary computers.

Image:Damian Green leaves his home earlier this week

Mr Green – effectively PM Theresa May's deputy – has said any allegation that he made sexual advances to a journalist is "untrue and deeply hurtful".

Kate Maltby, who is three decades younger than the First Secretary of State, told The Times that Mr Green "fleetingly" touched her knee during a meeting in a Waterloo pub in 2015, and a year later sent her a "suggestive" text message.

Mr Green strongly denied a Sunday Times report that former Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Bob Quick would claim pornographic material was found by officers investigating government leaks in 2008.

:: Chris Pincher

The Government whip has referred himself to police and stepped down from the Whips' Office.

The Mail on Sunday reported that Mr Pincher had been accused of making an unwanted pass at a Conservative activist and former British rower Alex Story.

Mr Pincher told the newspaper: "If Mr Story has ever felt offended by anything I said then I can only apologise to him."

(L-R) Daniel Kawczynski, Dan Poulter and Stephen Crabb have been referred to the new Tory disciplinary committee
Image:(L-R) Daniel Kawczynski, Dan Poulter and Stephen Crabb have been referred to a new disciplinary panel

:: Daniel Kawczynski

Mr Kawczynski, a former special adviser to David Cameron, has been accused of trying to pressure a young researcher to go on a date with a friend of his.

The Shrewsbury and Atcham MP is understood to admit he did put forward the idea, but denies any suggestion that anything inappropriate took place.

He has been referred to the Conservative Party's new disciplinary panel.

:: Daniel Poulter

Dr Poulter has also been referred to the new panel after fellow Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said he heard three female Conservatives discussing his behaviour towards them.

A spokesman for Dr Poulter said he "denies all allegations of misconduct or inappropriate behaviour and will vigorously defend himself against any such claims".

Mark Garnier
Image:Mark Garnier asked a former aide to buy sex toys

:: Stephen Crabb

Former cabinet minister and leadership contender Stephen Crabb was referred to the disciplinary panel on Saturday after admitting he said some "pretty outrageous things" in text messages to a 19-year-old woman who applied for a job in his office.

The incident was reported to have happened before Mr Crabb resigned from Cabinet in July 2016 citing family reasons, which followed separate allegations he sent suggestive text messages to a young woman.

: Charlie Elphicke

The Dover and Deal MP said he did not know the nature of the "serious allegations" referred to police after he was suspended from the party last Friday.

He denied any wrongdoing and said the media had been informed of his suspension before he knew of it.

:: Mark Garnier

The Cabinet Office is investigating whether the international trade minister broke the ministerial code after he admitted asking a former aide to buy sex toys.

Sir Michael Fallon has resigned as Defence Secretary
Image:Sir Michael Fallon has resigned as Defence Secretary

The Wyre Forest MP also confirmed his former secretary's allegation that he called her "sugart***" but he strongly denied sexual harassment.

:: Sir Michael Fallon

The Defence Secretary resigned last week after admitting his personal conduct had "fallen below the high standards we require of the armed forces".

He had already apologised for putting his hand on journalist Julia Hartley-Brewer's knee at a Conservative party conference 15 years ago.

He was subsequently accused of making lewd remarks – which he denies – to Cabinet colleague Andrea Leadsom and of "lunging" at political reporter Jane Merrick in 2003.

A friend of Sir Michael told Sky News the former defence secretary "realises this kind of incident was unacceptable, which is why he resigned".

Labour

Clive Lewis, MP for Norwich South
Image:Clive Lewis, MP for Norwich South, hit back after he was accused

:: Clive Lewis

A party member has accused the Norwich South MP of groping her at the party conference in Brighton last month.

Labour said it was investigating a formal complaint against Mr Lewis.

The former shadow minister said he was "vigorously" disputing the allegation and added: "I know how I roll. I don't squeeze women's buttocks."

:: Kelvin Hopkins

Labour activist Ava Etemadzadeh claimed Mr Hopkins hugged her inappropriately after a student event in 2014 and later sent an inappropriate text.

Kelvin Hopkins
Image:Kelvin Hopkins denies inappropriate behaviour

Mr Hopkins admitted using the wording described in the text message but "absolutely and categorically" denied engaging in inappropriate conduct.

Mr Hopkins has been suspended by the party.

:: Unnamed senior figure

Bex Bailey – a former member of Labour's ruling National Executive Committee – said she was 19 when she was raped in 2011 by a senior party figure who was not an MP.

She said when she confided in a senior party official two years later she was discouraged from reporting the attack.

Labour has launched an internal investigation.

:: Carl Sargeant

The Welsh Assembly's cabinet secretary for communities and children was suspended by Labour following allegations about his "personal conduct".

Mr Sargeant called for an independent investigation "to allow me to clear my name".

SNP

Mark McDonald was the childcare minister for the current Scottish government
Image:Mark McDonald was the childcare minister for the current Scottish government

:: Mark McDonald

The Scottish childcare minister resigned over allegations regarding his private life.

In a statement released on Saturday, the SNP MSP for Aberdeen Donside apologised and said he was standing down as minister because "some of my previous actions" were "considered to be inappropriate".

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