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'WORLD'S GONE BONKERS'
BBC Northampton DJ says Michael Fallon touching woman’s knee is just ‘tactile’ and not sexual harassment in rant about Westminster sex pest claims
A TOP BBC radio DJ has said touching a woman's knee is just “tactile” and it is “not sexual harassment" in a rant about the Westminster sex pest scandal.
BBC Radio Northampton's Bernie Keith told listeners "the world has gone bonkers” after Sir Michael Fallon was forced to quit the Cabinet.
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He also hit out at the "sexually charged" modern society and warned not to save women from choking because "you’ll be accused of pushing their bosoms in the soup".
Bernie, 54 — once said to be the Beeb's highest paid local presenter outside London on £70,000 — waded into the Pest-minster scandal after Sir Michael sensationally quit as Defence Secretary on November 1.
The veteran Tory had been accused of repeatedly touching journalist Julia Hartley-Brewer's knee until she threatened to punch him in the face.
Bernie said on his show the next day: “I just don’t see that putting a hand on someone’s knee when talking to them is sexual harassment. It isn’t. It just isn’t."
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He added of Fallon's resignation: "I don’t know what’s happened, but you can’t blame him.
“Who would want to put themselves through this firestorm in the press these days?
“You would need to be mad to want to be a politician. That is the problem we have these days.
"Ostensibly we are voting for mad people who’ve gone into this knowing the press and media will bring you down. You'd have to be bonkers."
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Bernie went on to claim a host of female celebs such as Raquel Welch, Sophia Loren, Dolly Parton and Dallas star Victoria Principal had all stroked Terry Wogan's knee on his 80s chat show.
He said: “It’s not sexual harassment if that’s all you’re doing. It’s being tactile. It’s not the same.
“The world is going mad. And not that slowly either.
“How did we become a society where everything is sexually charged? Because it really isn’t. It just isn’t.
“If you should see someone choking in a restaurant, don’t go and do a Heimlich manoeuvre on them because you’ll be accused of pushing their bosoms in the soup.
“Don’t do it — stay in your seat. The world has gone bonkers.”
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Hours before Sir Michael's resignation, Bernie had sent a tasteless joke on Twitter about the growing list of MP sex pest allegations.
He said: "Westminster Sex Scandal! Mad! Whatever next: the Attorney General pleasuring himself with a lettuce?! That would be the tip of the iceberg!"
One fan replied: "Oh dear..."
A BBC spokesman told Sun Online: “No offence was intended.”
It is not the first controversial rant by Bernie, known for his "humorous and edgy presenting style".
The BBC refused to take action after he blasted Corporation bosses as "clueless" over the Jimmy Savile abuse scandal in 2014.
In another tirade, he said: “Welcome to BBC management medical — let me shine the light through your ear. Oh good, it comes out the other side — perfect, you’ve got the job.”
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Sir Michael, 65, quit last week telling Theresa May his past conduct had “fallen below the high standards” he asked of troops.
It then emerged Cabinet colleague Andrea Leadsom accused him of making the lewd comment when she complained of cold hands: “I know where you can put them to warm them up”.
Journalist Jane Merrick also reported him to Downing Street alleging he made a pass and tried to kiss her in 2003.
It comes amid calls to end the "witch hunt" of politicians following the apparent suicide of sacked Welsh minister Carl Sargeant, who had begged Labour chiefs to detail the allegations against him.
Today as friends said he was "thrown to the wolves", Sir Alistair Graham, ex-chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, said Labour must ask a lawyer to investigate its handling of the case.
Jeremy Corbyn's aide David Prescott, son of former deputy PM John, is the latest to face allegations of harassment.
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