Nadine Dorries sentenced for rejecting Stanley Johnson’s allegation

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Caroline Nokes, chair of the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee, said she was disappointed the Cabinet minister chose to “denounce me in this way” and hoped her comments did not deter others. to report sexual harassment.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Dorries dismissed the allegation of her Tory colleague, who also prompted a reporter to accuse former Tory MEP Johnson (below) of groping her.

“I don’t believe that has happened,” Dorries said.

“I’ve known Stanley for 15 years. He’s a gentleman. This has never happened to me. Maybe there is something wrong with me.

Nokes said she had hoped the panel on which she accused Mr Johnson of hitting her to the bottom and making a vulgar comment in 2003 “would empower and encourage other women to speak out.”

“I am very sorry that the Secretary of State for the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sports used her considerable influence and power in the media to denounce me in this way, and I really hope that her attitude will not deter other women from being brave enough to report their experiences of sexual harassment in public, ”Nokes said.

Johnson, 81, did not deny the allegations but said he had “no recollection” of any of the incidents.

READ MORE: Tory MP who accused Stanley Johnson of fumbling condemns ‘victim blame’

In 2003, Nokes was due to run for Romsey’s seat in the next general election, while Johnson would run for the Tories in Teignbridge.

“I remember a very important man who patted me on the back as hard as he could and said, ‘Oh, Romsey, you have a great seat,'” Nokes said earlier. this month, before identifying the man as Stanley Johnson. .

Her allegation prompted Ailbhe Rea, a reporter for the New Statesman, to claim Johnson groped her at the Conservative Party conference in 2019.

Jess Phillips (below), the shadow minister for domestic violence and protection, who appeared on the Sky News discussion where Nokes first detailed the allegation, said it was a “mistake common “for people to think that the people they love cannot perpetrate sexual harassment or violence. .

READ MORE: Tories urged to investigate Stanley Johnson over allegations of improper touching

“It’s the thing that silences the victims. It reminds them to keep quiet about their experiences, ”the Labor MP said.

“I must say I expected better from Nadine. I’m not surprised though, this is the most common response to disbelief.

“I don’t know exactly why she thinks Caroline would lie. Where is the benefit?

Labor called on the Conservative Party to investigate the allegations, but declined to say whether an investigation would be launched.

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