Damian Green, Theresa May’s deputy, is in Westminster ‘dirty dossier’ over claims he was on Ashley Madison database
THERESA MAY’S deputy Damian Green is the first name on the list of alleged Tory sex pests because of claims he signed up to a cheating website, The Sun can reveal today.
The First Secretary of State was forced to deny being a member of Ashley Madison two years ago after his email address was found on the site’s database following a massive hack.
As a result Mr Green has now appeared at the top of a spreadsheet listing senior Conservatives who are accused of misconduct, it has emerged.
The document has been circulating around Westminster for several days as allegations of sexual harassment against MPs have arisen, with ten of the names on the list now public knowledge.
When Ashley Madison’s database of members was leaked in 2015, Mr Green - who has been married for three decades - said he had no idea why his email address appeared on it.
He said at the time: “It's nothing to do with me. I have never registered for an account with Ashley Madison.”
On the spreadsheet, Mr Green’s name is listed as the first entry with a note next to it saying “Ashley Madison”.
Asked about Mr Green appearing on the list, a spokesman for the Prime Minister said: “I haven't seen any allegations in relation to the First Secretary of State and I'm not going to comment on speculation in any way.”
Overnight five more Tory MPs were reportedly added to Westminster’s so-called “dirty dossier” as the harassment scandal deepens.
The new additions take the number of Conservatives listed above 40, including several Cabinet ministers.
Separately, the Defence Secretary admitted touching a journalist’s knee to The Sun last night.
Sir Michael Fallon confessed that he was the minister who talkRADIO presenter Julia Hartley-Brewer threatened to punch for repeatedly putting his hand on her.
But the married father-of-two insisted he apologised over the incident 15 years ago and that both considered the matter closed.
It comes as a spreadsheet containing a litany of lurid claims, as well as consensual relationships between MPs and staff, sent shockwaves through Parliament.
Compiled by current and former Tory researchers, it has forced the Government to pledge action to tackle the worsening scandal, as some fear it could be "worse than the expenses" furore which deeply damaged trust in politics.
In addition to Mr Green, Mr Crabb and Mr Garnier, seven other Tory MPs are on the list in connection with relationships or incidents which are already publicly known.
In many cases the politicians are accused of no wrongdoing and are only named because they have had a relationship with another person in Westminster.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd is on the list as having a “workplace relationship with Kwasi Kwarteng”, another Tory MP.
Neither has ever denied the relationship and they have not been accused of any misconduct.
Grant Shapps, the party’s former chairman, is listed because of rumours allegedly spread by his political rivals that he had an affair, which he denies.
Another MP on the list, Mark Menzies, resigned as a ministerial aide in 2014 following reports he had hired a rent boy.
Minister Jake Berry is included because he “impregnated Boris Johnson’s office manager” Alice Robinson, even though the couple have lived together for some time and do not hide their relationship.
Robert Halfon, another senior figure featured in the document, has admitted having an affair with a Tory activist two years ago.
Justin Tomlinson and Steve Double are on the list in connection with relationships they had with staff members which were previously featured in The Sun.
None of the 10 MPs from the list who have been publicly named is accused of sexual harassment or abuse of any kind.
The document’s circulation this week has led to more names being added – including one MP from the 2017 intake.
The claims, despite many being unverified and several others strenuously denied, have the potential to bring down Theresa May’s administration, as she has pledged to sack anyone found guilty of impropriety.
The Prime Minister refused to comment on Mr Fallon’s admission, but there is already a Cabinet Office inquiry into Mark Garnier – the trade minister who had his aide purchase sex toys for him.
And she is being urged to sack former minister Stephen Crabb, who sent sleazy text messages to a teenager who he had interviewed for a job.
Another potential investigation could be ordered following claims two female researchers had to move to different jobs because of inappropriate behaviour.
The Daily Telegraph alleged he made a pass at one woman and improper comments to another.
An urgent debate was held in the House of Commons yesterday, but a top Tory warned the probe into wrongdoing could “unfairly tarnish” politicians and insisted Parliament is not a “den of iniquity”.
Graham Brady, chair of the powerful 1922 Committee, expressed “anguish” about the widening claims as he warned about the danger of the investigation becoming a witch hunt.
He said: “The over-riding thing is the view that any wrongdoing should be prevented and people should be supported if they suffer from it.
"But also of course a degree of anguish that these things also unfairly tarnish the vast majority of Members of Parliament who are committed to public service and to doing good for their constituents.
"I think many people would say there's a culture of sexual harassment in many workplaces.
"But I think that where there is wrongdoing it needs to be dealt with, I think it would be a mistake to imagine that Parliament is a den of inequity."
His comments case after the Commons Speaker John Bercow said the political parties, not just Parliament, must act to tackle the issue.
He attacked a "culture of sexual harassment” in Westminster – adding: "Make no mistake, there is a need for change."
And the leader of the House of Commons, Andrea Leadsom, has written explaining the government “will look at establishing a house-wide mediation service, as well as a code of conduct and contractually binding grievance procedures”.
In a piece for the Times she said: “The government will take appropriate disciplinary action if MPs or ministers are found guilty of any form of harassment or abuse. Nobody is above the letter, or indeed the spirit, of the law.
“It is a right, not a privilege, to work in a safe and respectful environment - and our plans are taking zero-tolerance approach.
“I know all party leaders will work together, with Mr Speaker, to reach an agreement and get these changes in place as soon as possible.”
But other MPs have warned against what they saw as the beginnings of a witch hunt, Tory MP Bernard Jenkin dismissing the story about Mr Fallon.
He told BBC Newsnight last night: “And let’s be clear — the more serious issues are when people have wanted to complain, have felt unable to complain, or have complained and legitimate complaints have not been dealt with.
“This is not in that category.”
On the same programme the Conservative whip Michael Fabricant said: “I feel there is a growing witch-hunt mentality currently going on.
“We must ensure inappropriate behaviour is stamped out, but at the same time we don’t want to see individuals who have been blameless being accused of things that maybe they haven’t really done, or maybe at the time everyone was sloshed?”
The scandal has now moved north of the border too, with the SNP confirming it has launched two investigations into allegations of sexual harassment.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said earlier she did not know of any allegations against MSPs or MPs from her party, but she “fully” expects complaints to be made in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.
Echoing moves at Westminster the presiding officer at Holyrood, Ken Macintosh, will convene a meeting of all Scottish party leaders today as a confidential phone line is set up for any victims of harassment.
A spokesman for the SNP said last night: “The SNP has had concerns of this nature raised by two different individuals.
“These will be fully investigated but enquiries remain at an early stage. We will do nothing to deter people from coming forward and, as such, we will not comment further while investigations are ongoing.”
