Sir Keir Starmer Says Allegations Against Prime Minister Stanley Johnson’s Father Should Be “Fully Investigated” | Politics News

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Allegations of inappropriate contact against Prime Minister Stanley Johnson’s father should be “fully investigated”, Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer said.

Tory MP Caroline Nokes, former minister and chair of the Women and Equality Select Committee, told Sky News the incident involving the Prime Minister’s father took place at the Conservative Party conference in Blackpool in 2003 , when she was in her early thirties.

Ms Nokes, who has represented Romsey and Southampton North since 2010, was at the time the potential candidate for the constituency’s parliamentary election ahead of the 2005 general election.

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0:58 MLA’s touching claim against Stanley Johnson

She told Sky News: “I remember a very prominent man – at the time the Tory candidate from Teignbridge in Devon – patting me on the back as hard as he could and saying : “oh, Romsey, you have a nice seat.”

The candidate was Stanley Johnson, who later failed to get elected.

Sky News has asked Stanley Johnson for comment on this allegation.

He said: “I have no recollection of Caroline Nokes – but there you go. And no answer… Hey ho, good luck and thank you.”

Following the MP’s allegation, New Statesman reporter Ailbhe Rea said she was “groped” by Stanley Johnson at the 2019 Conservative Party conference.

Asked about the allegations, Sir Keir told a press conference: “The allegations are serious and they need to be fully investigated. I don’t think at this point it is for me to say which should result.

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0:41’s Father Should Be Investigated – Starmer

“But it takes courage and courage to come forward, to make claims like this.

“They must now be the subject of a thorough investigation, either by the Conservative Party or by the criminal authorities.

“But these allegations having been made, there must now be an investigation into them.”

Ms Nokes’ comments were made during a multi-stakeholder roundtable, hosted by Sky News, between four prominent parliamentarians on how to tackle violence against women in the wake of the murder of Sarah Everard.

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10:44 Violence against women: the point of view of the deputies

Downing Street had previously declined to comment.

Asked about the allegation during a regular briefing with reporters, Boris Johnson’s spokesman said he “was not going to be drawn into individual cases”.

The spokesperson said he had not spoken to the prime minister about the claim, adding: “It wouldn’t be for me.

“I am not going to be drawn into specific allegations against any individual.

“Of course, we would like anyone, regardless of the circumstance, who feels they have been the victim of any harassment to come forward and report it to the appropriate authorities.”

Ms Nokes tweeted on Tuesday: “I just wanted to thank the fellowship for the solidarity and support today. You know who you are and you are amazing.”

Speaking to Sky News earlier, Security Minister Damian Hinds said an investigation would be conducted into the allegations against the Prime Minister’s father “if that is the way forward”.

Labor shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds told Kay Burley that “any victim that comes forward, we have to treat what they say very sensitive, very careful.”

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