Boris Johnson under fire for hiring Chris Pincher despite JOKING about his reputation

BORIS Johnson is under increased fire for hiring shamed Tory MP Chris Pincher — despite joking about his reputation.

The PM was claimed to have cracked gags about the MP and quipped that all the “sex pests” in the party backed him when he ran for leader.

It comes after No 10 said the PM was not aware of “unsubstantiated allegations” before hiring Pincher as Deputy Chief Whip in February.

But insiders claim that Mr Johnson told aides in 2020: “He’s handsy, that’s a problem. Pincher by name, pincher by nature.”

Ex-aide Dominic Cummings claimed the PM said the same to him.

Downing Street yesterday refused to be drawn on the “private conversations” held by the PM.

It came as shamed Pincher — now sitting as an independent MP — faced calls to resign after more allegations emerged.

Tory councillors in his Tamworth constituency have called for him to do the “honourable thing”.

And Labour’s Anneliese Dodds has written to the PM asking what No10 knew about the allegations before Pincher’s appointment as whip.