Sir Michael Fallon, British Defence Secretary, has resigned after confessing to sexual misconduct.
The Sun reported yesterday, a dossier drawn up as a spreadsheet by anonymous staff who work with and for Conservative MPs, accuses 36 Tories (including six Cabinet ministers) of sexual harassment.
One redacted individual on the dossier is alleged to have “impregnated former researcher and made her have an abortion + had other female researchers”, while MP’s being “inappropriate with women” is a common theme.
But while the “sex pest” or “dirty” dossier threatens to bring down a host of politicians, only Sir Michael Fallon has stood down amid the furore.
He admitted to repeatedly touching the leg of talkRADIO presenter Julia Hartley-Brewer under a dining table in 2002 despite her objections.
The senior conservative MP has since tendered his resignation in a public letter to Prime Minister Theresa May.
“A number of allegations have surfaced about MPs in recent days, including some about my previous conduct,” he wrote.
“Many of these have been false but I accept that in the past I have fallen below the high standards that we require of the Armed Forces that I have the honour to represent. I am reflecting on my position and I am therefore resigning as Defence Secretary.”
Ms Hartley-Brewer has said Sir Fallon’s resignation is “ridiculous” if it is in reaction to “kneegate” 15 years ago.
But with the the Westminster allegations picking up momentum, many suspect there is more dirt to be dished.
Respected Labour Party committee member Bex Bailey told BBC PM, she’d been raped at a party event by someone more senior than an MP. She says she was advised by a senior member of staff not to report it as it might “damage” her.
As the Westminster scandal continues to unravel, the Prime Minister wrote to Commons Speaker John Bercow demanding a crack down on MPs’ behaviour, saying the problem “cannot be tolerated any longer”.
This coincides with revelations that Kevin Spacey sexually harassed an under-age boy in 1986, and follows on from the Harvey Weinstein disgrace, as Hollywood continues to reveal its seedy underbelly.
Needs to be stripped of his title as well.