mr pincher said he hoped to return to his duties as mp for tamworth in staffordshire as quickly as possibler political correspondent, helen catt, has more. in chris pincher�*s constituency of tamworth in staffordshire this morning, it was all quiet. mr pincher himself has not spoken publicly since he resigned as the deputy chief whip on thursday night after being accused of groping two men at the private carlton club in london. he said in his resignation letter that he had "drunk far too much" and embarrassed himself. he remains the mp for tamworth. some constituents told us they were unhappy at his behaviour. very disappointed in him because we've always voted tory and we always will. and i love boris. and it's a shame he has to take the flak for all of it. it's not right, is it? it's wrong. he's there to look after the people in tamworth, and he does things like this. he is meant to be representing the town and that is not - representation that you really want. i think it's disgraceful and it is now time he left. a formal complaint has now been made to parliament's independent complaints

all are denied by mr pincher.re that he made similar unwanted advances to fellow mps, one in a bar in parliament, one in his private office. in february, when mr pincher was made whip, one of those mps contacted downing street to relay his concerns. downing street has said that at the time, borisjohnson was not aware of any specific allegations, something repeated by a minister today. so how can you be sure that he didn't know about the allegations? well, i'm saying that i've been informed this morning he did not know about specific allegations, as has been well reported. people who spoke to him on friday and in agreement with the chief whip, the whip was removed from chris pincher, who, by the way, is now under a formal investigation process. and it's important that process is allowed to happen. so i'm still not clear, who has told you that the prime minister, and who has told you with certainty the prime minister didn't know about the allegations? somebody from the number 10 press office. so the number 10 press

he says there was a formal complaint and mr pincher was not exonerated.ic raab was foreign secretary at the time. you minister dominic raab was foreign secretary at the time.— secretary at the time. you don't believe then _ secretary at the time. you don't believe then the _ secretary at the time. you don't believe then the work _ secretary at the time. you don't believe then the work of - secretary at the time. you don't believe then the work of lord i secretary at the time. you don't i believe then the work of lord bell lord mcdonald who said borisjohnson was briefed in person about the initiation and outcome of the investigation?— initiation and outcome of the investigation? initiation and outcome of the investiuation? . , , ., investigation? that is news to me, i was not aware _ investigation? that is news to me, i was not aware of _ investigation? that is news to me, i was not aware of that _ investigation? that is news to me, i was not aware of that and _ investigation? that is news to me, i was not aware of that and it's - investigation? that is ne

but dominic cummings, former aide and now fierce critic of mrjohnson, said long before appointing mr pincherby name, pincher by nature. so, labour�*s anneliese dodds has written to mrjohnson with an urgent question, asking, were you or senior members of your advisory team made aware of allegations of inappropriate behaviour by mr pincher prior to his appointment in the whips office? when mrjohnson set out on his recent trip abroad, his party had just lost two by—elections. he may have been hoping on his return to find questions about his leadership fading. instead, he faces new ones. damian grammaticas, bbc news, westminster. let�*s speak to our political correspondent ben wright who�*s in westminster. what has been said among mps at westminster in all of this? tori; westminster in all of this? tory mps, who _ westminster in all of this? tory mps, who i _ westminster in all of this? tory mps, who i think _ westminster in all of this? tory mps, who | think | _ westminster in all of this? tory mps, who i think i hoped - westminster in all of this? trr�*j.’ mps, who i think i hoped they westmin

is an arch borisjohnson this because mr pincher is an arch boris johnson loyalist, this because mr pincherhere are double standards at play here? i there are double standards at play here? ., �* ~ ., ., there are double standards at play here? ~ ., ., , here? i don't know about double standards. _ here? i don't know about double standards, it _ here? i don't know about double standards, it may _ here? i don't know about double standards, it may well— here? i don't know about double standards, it may well be - here? i don't know about double standards, it may well be that i here? i don't know about double | standards, it may well be that mr pincher was dealt different because he was seen as a chief ally and he was deputy chief whip and whips have an important place in this investigation, but i think it is downing street reacting slowly and cat candidly, as it has a tends to do, it sees itsjob is getting to the weekend and not much beyond that. we the weekend and not much beyond that. ~ ., ~' the weekend and not much beyond that. ~ ., ~ ., that. we tend to think of the traditional _ that. we

, - now critical of borisjohnson, cummings, said the prime minister had long before referred to mr pincher name, pincher by nature. i pincher is pincher by name, pincher b nature. ~ f . by nature. i think they've made decisions they _ by nature. i think they've made decisions they shouldn't - by nature. i think they've made decisions they shouldn't have l by nature. i think they've made - decisions they shouldn't have made. i can't believe some of the things in the papers today but what the prime minister may have personally been aware of before he made decisions like this, and it affects the reputation of us all, and that's what i find so frustrating. in what i find so frustrating. in a statement — what i find so frustrating. in a statement released _ what i find so frustrating. in a statement released yesterday, chris pincher said the stresses of the last few days on top of those of the last few days on top of those of the last few days on top of those of the last few months have made him accept it would benefit from professional medical support and that he was in the process of seeking

it's been claimed downing street was warned about mr pincher�*s behaviour before he was given a governmentjobnsisted borisjohnson had not been made aware of specific allegations. chris pincher was one of the conservative mps who helped borisjohnson keep hisjob earlier this year. it was one of the reasons he was promoted to government. but after the allegations of groping emerged last night, there was considerable pressure from senior tories for a zero tolerance approach, and tonight it was confirmed that mr pincher would be suspended from the tory party in parliament. a spokeswoman for the chief whip said... the right thing has happened. what i think is sad is that it took all day for borisjohnson to show any leadership and borisjohnson has now decided that the best thing for borisjohnson is for chris pincher to lose the whip. but some parliamentary staff have raised concerns about general allegations not being taken seriously enough. henry and angus both work for mps. as staff in parliament, we know about these rumours and we know who these people are, and we see them walking round every day

, when mr pincher was a foreign office minister.ling the truth." sir simon mcdonald was asked on the today programme this mornig how the information he provided about chris pincher reached boris johnson. i briefed the relevant senior official in the cabinet office. you will understand that such complaints about ministers are very rare, very sensitive. they are dealt with at the very top level, and so i had the help and support of the cabinet office through the investigation. and are you convinced, are you sure, that the cabinet office, in person, told mrjohnson about it? i know that the senior official briefed the prime minister in person because that official told me so at the time. so there's no question in your mind that mrjohnson knew in person, had been told in person about what happened at the foreign office? correct. so when will quince, the children's minister, said to us yesterday, "i've been given a categoric "assurance that the prime minister was not aware of any specific "allegations or complaints relating to the former

those mps, we now know, went to downing street in february when mrjohnson was considering making mr pincher concerns, so the question for mr johnson is how much did he know, and should he have acted on what he was being told? it's also important to say that mrjohnson�*s former aide dominic cummings said this weekend that long before appointing mr pincher mrjohnson used to refer to him as pincher by name, pinch are by nature. mr pincher has apologised for what has happened last week, says he is seeking medical attention and hopes to be back in hisjob as and hopes to be back in hisjob as an mp. and hopes to be back in his 'ob as an mp. ., and hopes to be back in his 'ob as an mp. . ,., ., and hopes to be back in his 'ob as anmp. . ., ., ~ an mp. damian grammaticas, thank ou. the chief executive of the uk health security agency, damejenny harries, has warned that the number of people being admitted to hospital with covid is expected to rise again. the latest uk figures show that infectionsjumped by more than 0.5 million in a week. our health editor hugh pym is here with the latest. huw, today

mr pincher has apologised for what has happened last week, says he is seeking medical attention and hopeson the programme: we look at the millions of tonnes of plastic waste that's flowing into our oceans every year, and whether plastic recycling is actually effective at reducing it. a special report coming up. china marked its first day of rule in hong kong with a series of spectacular celebrations. a huge firework display was held in the former colony. the chinese president, jiang zemin, said unification was the start of a new era for hong kong. the world's first clone has been produced of an adult mammal. scientists in scotland have produced a sheep called dolly that was cloned in a laboratory using a cell from another sheep. for the first time in 20 years, russian and american spacecraft have docked in orbit at the start of a new era of cooperation in space. challenger powered past _ the bishop rock lighthouse at almost 50 knots, shattering a record that had stood for 34 years. _ and there was no hiding the sheer elation of- richard branson and his crew. this is newsday on the bbc. i'

another claim that boris johnson was made aware of two months ago, about claims that mr pincher had made when rebuffed, had gone to that tory mp�*s wife with allegations of a sexual nature about the mp. so all of these are now being reported by the sunday papers. there are warnings of further disruption for air travellers passing through heathrow this summer, with more flights likely to be cancelled in the coming weeks at the uk's busiest airport. the cuts are expected as the airlines change their schedules ahead of the school holiday period. our business reporter noor nanji has the story. after big queues at airports this summer, warnings of more disruption, with a new wave of flight cancellations expected to be announced next week. we're now right in the midst of the peak summer travel season but we're still experiencing the problems of lack of manpower, not only for airlines but across airports, ground handlers and even in some cases border control staff, so the mix of high volumes and lack of people is causing tremendous dislocation at many airports. the government is allowing an amn

earlier, our political correspondent, damian grammaticas, had more on mr pincher�*s statement.the prime minister's decision to suspend the whip from him, essentially to suspend him from the conservative party. so he doesn't sit as a conservative mp now. and he says he will cooperate fully with the inquiry. he repeats what he said in his letter of resignation, which was that he drank far too much on wednesday night, he said, embarrassing myself and others. i'm truly sorry for the upset. he goes on to say, interestingly, he says, the stresses of the last few days coming on top of those over the last several months have made me accept that i will benefit from professional medical help, and i'm in the process of seeking that now. so he says he hopes to be able to return to his constituency duties as soon as possible, making very clear that he is not going to resign at this point. he wants to, he says, to seek that help and let the investigation happen. and what do we think downing street, how will they respond to this, do you think? well, they had said, as you said, a second ago, t

mr pincher has denied those claims.know to be a thoroughly honourable and decent man, appears to have resigned as a result of that. so it is a matter of, i think, very grave concern, and it's a matter that has to be addressed yet again by the conservative party. prime minister and as leader of the party, will perhaps look at this and say this is his critics and his opponents scrabbling around trying to find another way to get him out, having failed in the confidence vote just a matter of weeks ago. well, first of all, the confidence vote was not an orchestrated attempt to get the prime minister out. i can't speak for anybody else — i put my letter in 18 months ago, long before partygate was a gleam in a journalist's eye. and i stand by my criticism that the prime minister is not a person of fitjudgment to hold that very high office. so this goes back, as far as i'm concerned, for a very long way indeed. but i think what is significant is the manner in which very senior and decent and honourable cabinet ministers like th

questions about what mr johnson knew when he appointed chris pincher earlier this year. er who has fallen out with mrjohnson, he has been tweeting today claiming that mr johnson had repeatedly referred to chris pincher as pincher by name pincher by nature long before appointing him. downing street yesterday said borisjohnson appointing him. downing street yesterday said boris johnson wasn't aware of any specific allegations which would prevent him giving him that role back in february. and we'll find out how this story — and many others — are covered in tomorrow's front pages at 10:30 and 11:30 this evening in the papers — our guestsjoining me tonight are the broadcaster and pyschotherapist lucy beresford and joe twyman, director of the polling organisation deltapoll. two more britons captured by russian forces in ukraine have been charged with being mercenaries, according to russian state media. dylan healy, a chef who was volunteering as an aid worker, had been captured at a checkpoint in april. 0n the same day, russia released a video of andrew hill in military uniform

it's been claimed downing street was warned about mr pincher�*s behaviour before he was given a governmentjobmade aware of specific allegations. chris pincher was one of the conservative mps who helped borisjohnson keep his job earlier this year. it was one of the reasons he was promoted to government. but after the allegations of groping emerged last night, there was considerable pressure from senior tories for a zero tolerance approach, and tonight it was confirmed that mr pincher would be suspended from the tory party in parliament. a spokeswoman for the chief whip said... the right thing has happened. what i think is sad is that it took all day for borisjohnson to show any leadership and borisjohnson has now decided that the best thing for borisjohnson is for chris pincher to lose the whip. but some parliamentary staff have raised concerns about general allegations not being taken seriously enough. henry and angus both work for mps. as staff in parliament, we know about these rumours and we know who these people are and we see them walking round every day, and if we know they have been do

mr pincher denies the latest claims, which are reported in several sunday newspapers. borisjohnson is facing questions about how much he knew when he appointed the mp as the deputy chief whip in february. here's our political correspondent helen catt. it was what it's claimed happened on an evening of drinking here at london's carlton club that led to chris pincher�*s resignation from the government on thursday night and later his suspension as a conservative mp. in today's papers, there are more claims, denied by mr pincher, of incidents at other locations, stretching back a number of years. among them, that he made unwanted physical advances towards three male mps, including once in a parliamentary bar and once in his office. one of those mps, it's reported, told downing street in february about his experience, when the prime minister was considering appointing mr pincher to the whip�*s office. but the government insists mrjohnson was not aware of specific accusations. so, how can you be sure that he didn't know about the allegations? i have been informed this mornin

what else is mr pincher saying?e has repeated what he said in his resignation letter on thursday which said he got far too drunk, he said embarrassed himself and others and he was truly sorry for the upset he had caused. he said he is seeking medical help and that means he hopes he said to return to his constituency duties as soon as possible. he is making clear he is not in his mind to resign at this stage. he wants to wait until the parliamentary inquiry takes place. that leaves open some questions, won his future role as an mp. the inquiry will look into those very serious allegations. conservatives and opposition parties are said if they are found to have merit he should resign, stand down. even in the meantime, there are questions. we know for his constituency, we have been hearing today, many in his constituency are quite upset about the mp who represents them with the serious allegations hanging over him. that is a question. also questions will be looked at for the decision of borisjohnson to appoint chris pi

another claim that boris johnson was made aware two months ago about claims that mr pincher had madep, and when rebuffed, had gone to that tory mp's wife with allegations of a sexual nature about the mp. so all of these are now being reported by the sunday papers. london has seen its biggest ever pride. more than a million people have taken part in the first event since 2019 because of the pandemic. it's also the 50th anniversary of london's first pride event. 0ur lgbt and identity correspondent lauren moss reports. cheering it's loud, it's proud, and it is back where it all began. the pride march took to the streets of london once again, led by the gay liberation front, who started it in 1972. generations came together under the rainbow flag, including 17—year—old aaron, and her mum vicky, who travelled from leicestershire. i came out this year to my mum as bisexual, and i have a voice wanted to come to one of these festivals, and when i discovered we would be down here because we went to a guns and roses concert yesterday, i askedif and roses concert yesterday, i asked if we could

constituency of tamworth, in staffordshire, as an independent. 0ur correspondent phil mccann has been in mr pincherpeaking to one of those constituents, a gentleman who voted for chris pincher, who said that the allegations against him are disgraceful. i asked, will you be voting conservative again? he said, well, it depends who the candidate is. clearly, he wanted chris pincher to stand down. but this is a seat which is mired, which is steeped in conservative heritage, as the market town at the centre of this constituency wakes up this morning and the market stalls are set out, we're stood in the shadow of one of chris pincher�*s, predecessors, sir robert peel, the founder of modern british police and conservative mp for this area, and the conservatives and mr. pincher have appeared to be very popular here in the past 19 and a half thousand was his majority at the last election. but people here just, i suppose, quite incredulous that here we are again with another scandal involving an mp, a conservative mp, after three over the last few months, two of which were also of a sexual nature. and attent

mr pincher, who admits that he'd had too much to drink, says he's now seeking professional help.he latest claims which are made in a number of sunday newspapers. borisjohnson is facing questions about how much he knew when he appointed mr pincher as the deputy chief whip in february. here's our political correspondent helen catt. it was what it claimed happened an evening of drinking here, that called for the resignation of chris pincher, to suspension as a conservative mp. in the papers today, there are more claims denied by mr pincher, at other locations, stretching back a number of years, and among them, that he made unwanted physical advances towards three male mps, including once in a palm tree bark and once in his office. one of those mps, it is reported, told downing street in february about his experience, when the prime minister was considering appointing him to the wit�*s offers. the government mentions that boris johnson was not aware of specific allegations. johnson was not aware of specific allegations-_ johnson was not aware of specific alleuations. ., , . . johnson

mr pincher resigned from the government on thursday, after allegations of sexual misconduct were madeeardley, joins me from westminster. when chris pincher stood on on thursday he admitted he had got drunk and embarrassed himself but over the weekend there have been several allegations of sexual misconduct in the newspapers, they had been denied by chris pincher to the newspapers. there is this increase in question over what the prime minister knew about allegations and when. on friday, we were told by downing street that the prime minister was not aware of specific allegations. this morning, the outline has changed from number ten who said the prime minister was aware of rumours and speculation. before chris pincher was given a job in the whips office in parliament. remember, thatjob as deputy chief whip meant he was in charge of party discipline, he also had a row in mps welfare. numberten discipline, he also had a row in mps welfare. number ten has also not denied a claim made by some who worked in number ten under boris johnson that mrjohnson used the term pincher by name, pincher

when mr pincher was a foreign office minister this this morning the former civil servant published hislongside a tweet saying, "this morning i have written "to the parliamentary commissioner for standards — "because number ten keep changing their story "and are still not telling the truth." sir simon mcdonald was asked on the today programme this mornig how the information he provided about chris pincher got to boris johnson. i briefed the relevant senior official in the cabinet office, you will understand such complaints about ministers are very rare, very sensitive, they are dealt with at the very top level, and so i had the help and support of the cabinet office through the investigation. 0ffice through the investigation. are you convinced, are you sure that the cabinet office in person told mr johnson about it? i the cabinet office in person told mr johnson about it?— johnson about it? i know that the senior official _ johnson about it? i know that the senior official briefed _ johnson about it? i know that the senior official briefed the - johnson about it? i know that the senior

he says there was a formal complaint and mr pincher was not exonerated.nister, dominic raab, was foreign secretary at the time. you don't believe, then, the word of lord mcdonald who said mrjohnson was briefed in person about the initiation and outcome of the investigation? so, that's news to me, i wasn't aware of that and it's not clear to me that is factually accurate. chris pincher resigned from hisjob as deputy chief whip last thursday. he has denied the misconduct allegations against him and is seeking professional medical support. number ten's line has changed several times since then. first, it said the prime minister was not aware of allegations involving mr pincher when he was given thejob in february. but yesterday, downing street said borisjohnson was aware of some allegations that were either resolved or did not turn into a formal complaint. lord mcdonald's intervention contradicts that claim and some of borisjohnson�*s own backbenchers are exasperated. it does appear that ministers of the crown have been lied to by people in downing street be

the bbc has been told that mr pincher apologised at the end of the process.om number 10 has developed since last thursday when chris pincher resigned saying he had drunk too much the previous night and had embarrassed himself. it was alleged that he had gropsedtwo men. in the following days, historical claims of inappropriate behaviour emerged which he denies. but on sunday and monday morning, ministers continued to stress that boris johnson was not aware of specific allegations when he gave mr pincher his most recent governmentjob. there was a development later on monday when downing street revealed the prime minister was previously aware of reports and speculation but nothing firmer than that. then, last night, bbc revealed the formal complaint that had been brought to borisjohnson�*s attention. you know how important a role the whips play in terms of... the prime minister's allies are defending his handling of the situation. it is very important to have the right people injobs, but you have to be fair to people. you can't hire and fire on the basis of rumo

mr pincher has denied the allegations against him.number 10 himself sees his opponent in peril. this government is collapsing. and the tory cabinet members have been backing boris johnson through this. the tory party is corrupted, and we need notjust a change at the top of the tory party, we need a change of government. what do you say to the person listening to our conversation who simply says, "look, i can't trust "the prime minister any more, he's just telling "the prime minister any more, he's just not telling "the truth"? i'm giving you the absolute truth as far as i can remember about what happened. can people trust you? of course they can. and i'm telling you... after all this? i'm telling you exactly what happened and i'm coming out to explain it because i'm fed up with people, if i may say so, chris, saying things on my behalf... these are people you employ. ..or trying to say things about what i knew or didn't know, and i'm trying to explain to you exactly what happened as i remember it. truth, integrity, and this man's futu

boris johnson also faces questions after he promoted mr pincher in february.ime minister? number ten conceded today he had known about speculation of sexual misconduct and allegations number ten said were either resolved or didn't progress to a formal complaint. but that's a change from friday when downing street simply said the prime minister had known about any specific allegations. there were allegations about chris pincher way back in the may government, which he denied when they were investigated. they were found not to be correct. he was then promoted into government, he became a minister, on the specific allegations the prime minister did not know and i think you know, he, as soon as he found out, he acted decisively. there are also claims the prime minister referred to pincher by name, pincher by nature. downing street hasn't denied that. but number ten said it wasn't appropriate to stop his appointment because of unsubstantiated allegations. we've got a prime minister with no judgment who is consistently putting his own interests before the interest o

we know the incident last week happened, mr pincher is now being investigated and he has had the torydow cabinet office minister and it is what she said. i cabinet office minister and it is what she said.— cabinet office minister and it is what she said. ., �* ~ ., , , what she said. i don't think anybody in westminster _ what she said. i don't think anybody in westminster believes _ what she said. i don't think anybody in westminster believes that - what she said. i don't think anybody in westminster believes that boris l in westminster believes that boris johnson _ in westminster believes that boris johnson did not know about the allegations, about chris pincher. and we — allegations, about chris pincher. and we think that to put him there into a _ and we think that to put him there into a position where he is responsible for mp's welfare and discipline — responsible for mp's welfare and discipline was extraordinary. and we want to— discipline was extraordinary. and we want to find — discipline was extraordinary. and we want to find out whether that is what _ want to find out whethe

-- mr pincher.aleena, who was killed as she walked home in east london last weekend. roads were closed in the ilford area to allow the crowd to walk the ten—minute journey from the scene of the attack to her home. a 29—year—old man has been charged with her murder. ayshea buksh reports. they walked in silence and defiance. men and women, young and old. 35—year—old zara aleena was murdered last weekend, along the cranbrook road in gants hill, east london. her family wanted people to join them to remember her and show their strength. this woman was walking home, coming back from a night out, and she was attacked. and that's fair for me, that's fair for my family members. you know, it's really heartbreaking to think what her family is actually going through right now. she had time for absolutely everybody. you know, even if she didn't know them personally, even if it was someone she had just met, she had so much time for everybody, to be there for them and listen to them. honestly, just such a loss, su

about his concerns and that the prime minister had, in the past, referred to apparently jokingly mr pinchere of some of this. alleged behaviour. but that because it did not reach that level of a formal complaint, that was the reason that he progressed with that appointment. downing street has also said, it is worth saying, that mr pincher had served before under theresa may, as a minister, the cabinet office team looked at his appointment and because of this lack of a formal complaint, said it could go—ahead. ultimately, all of this falls back on borisjohnson and the question and the question of his judgment and that is where the questions now revolve. and let's look at that. how dangerous is all of this for boris johnson? he survived that leadership vote amongst tory mps a few weeks ago, but there could be conceivably another one if there are changes to the 1922 committee? exactly. i think that's possibly the issue for him here. not the specific allegations themselves, although he is still under pressure to detail what he might have known, what these "media reports and allegations" that he

number ten insisted borisjohnson had not been aware of specific allegations about mr pincher when he ed earlier this year. but a conservative mp said concerns had been raised with downing street. chris pincher was one of the conservative mps who helped borisjohnson keep his job earlier this year. it was one of the reasons he was promoted to government. but after the allegations of groping emerged last night, there was considerable pressure from senior tories, for a zero—tolerance approach, and tonight it was confirmed that mr pincher would be suspended from the tory party in parliament. a spokeswoman for the chief whip said having heard that a formal complaint has been made, the prime minister has agreed with the chief whip that the whip should be suspended from chris pincher, while the investigation is ongoing. but some parliamentary staff have raised concerns about general allegation, not being taken seriously enough. henry and angus work for mps. as staff in parliament, we know about _ as staff in parliament, we know about these rumours and we know who these _ about these rumours a

we are also told that the prime minister did seek advice from a local colleagues about mr pincher andand also from a civil service too, and the cabinet office propriety and ethics team. but it seems those concerns, those unsubstantiated claims downing street has put it as were balanced with what we were told where his considerable skills and experience in determining whether he was the right man for thejob. as in determining whether he was the right man for the job. as you say, there have been various other accusations made over the weekend, chris pincher has denied those to the news papers which reported them and, in a statement, he said that he is seeking medical help. but he's also said that he hopes to return to his job as also said that he hopes to return to hisjob as a also said that he hopes to return to his job as a constituency mp as soon as possible. find his job as a constituency mp as soon as possible-— as possible. and a brief thought about what _ as possible. and a brief thought about what else _ as possible. and a brief thought about what else the _ as possible. and a br

in a letter to the prime minister yesterday, mr pincher said... tion. a senior government source said he was a loyal conservative who recognised he had behaved badly. labour say there are serious questions about how he can remain as a conservative mp. and chris pincher�*s resignation will again raise the issue of standards of conduct at westminster. jonathan blake, bbc news. you are watching bbc news. staying with the story, chris pincher resigning. 0ur political correspondent iain watson is following developments at westminster. downing street told me this morning they thought no further action was necessary and a government source said last night when the news broke that they believed he had done the right thing by resigning as deputy chief whip and they say he is a loyal conservative mp. he is certainly loyal to borisjohnson because chris pincher was part of what was known at westminster as a shadow whipping operation when the allegations around partygate surfaced towards the end of last year in the mirror newspaper and letters of no confidence

one of mr pincher�*s alleged victims has told the bbc the mp touched him on the leg and on the bottomcorrespondent nick eardley reports. mark met chris pincher in 2018, when he was working on a project about politicians. shortly after they were introduced, mark says he was touched inappropriately by the mp. itrailien inappropriately by the mp. when we were walking _ inappropriately by the mp. when we were walking out _ inappropriately by the mp. when we were walking out and _ inappropriately by the mp. when we were walking out and he _ inappropriately by the mp. when we were walking out and he was - inappropriately by the mp. when we were walking out and he was asking| were walking out and he was asking me if i was running, i told him, and he said you must have a lot of stamina. almost like he's giving me the come on. then he is feeling my leg and saying you must be muscular. that immediately makes me worried and thinking, you know, that's not right. so, touchingly there, i don't think he should be doing that to someone he is onlyjust met. when he's outside and he's got his arm around

mr pincher resigned as deputy chief whip. the allegations about chris pincher. on friday, downing street said the prime minister was not aware of any previous history involving this man and it took five daysin involving this man and it took five days in the intervention of that senior foreign office mandarin to say the prime minister had been personally briefed. we have just had this reaction as well from terraced armour, the leader of the opposition, and he... has made a forceful intervention, of course, about what has happened in the past few minutes. i think we can in fact now talk to kate, the journalist who can give us her reaction to these extraordinary and golfing events it would seem. this is an golfing events it would seem. “i“i 3 is an extraordinary day in politics, isn't a? i think it's important to recognise that there are two broad issues coming together, two very long term problems in westminster that have come to a head today. the first is a very long—running issue of the culture of sexual harassment, particular

mr. pincher, of the allegations against mr. pincher there were upheld. have you been told about any other such events relating to any other government minister? pm johnson: i will have to get back to you. i would not want -- >> it seems extraordinary you would not know if there allegations of your government ministers of sexual impropriety such that they might constitute potentially criminal offenses. pm johnson: there is nothing that springs to mind. i will say if you have some information. >> i'm asking this because it seems incredible to me that you did not remember this about someone who was one of your closest allies. let me ask you a different question. did you say -- pm johnson: people attribute all sorts of things to me. i can remember saying those words but people ascribe all sorts of words. >> did you say he is a bit hands he? >> that's not a word i use actually. i would not have used that word. >> so it's a definite no. pm johnson: that's not a word i use. >> did you say pincher by name, pincher by nature. pm johnson: i'm not to get into some

mr. pincher about allegations that were upheld. have you been told about any other such events relating to any other government minister? formally? >> i would have to get back to you. >> it seems extraordinary you would not know if there allegations against your government ministers of sexual impropriety such that they might constitute potentially -- >> there is nothing that springs to mind. will you say if you have some information. >> i asking this because it am seems incredible to me that you did not remember this about someone who was one of your closest allies. let me ask you a different question. did you say, all the sex pests are supporting me? >> people ascribe all sorts of things to me. that's not a word i used actually. handsy is not a normal word i use. >> did you say pincher by name, pincher by nature? >> this is a serious matter. the member has had a complaint made against him and that is where i will leave it. >> the allegation is that you have trivialized this issue. you have not even remembered it. perhaps because h

mr pincher has denied the allegations against him.ay wants to move into number 10 himself sees his opponent in peril. this government is collapsing. and the tory cabinet members have been backing boris johnson through this. the tory party is corrupted, and we need notjust a change at the top of the tory party, we need a change of government. what do you say to the person listening to our conversation who simply says, "look, i can't trust "the prime minister any more, he's just not telling "the truth"? i'm giving you the absolute truth as far as i can remember about what happened. can people trust you? of course they can. and i'm telling you... after all this? i'm telling you exactly what happened and i'm coming out to explain it because i'm fed up with people, if i may say so, chris, saying things on my behalf... these are people you employ. ..or trying to say things about what i knew or didn't know, and i'm trying to explain to you exactly what happened as i remember it. truth, integrity, and this man's future as our prime minister,

numberio insisted boris johnson had not been aware of specific allegations about mr pincher when he wasd earlier this year. but a conservative mp said concerns had been raised with downing street. chris pincher was one of the conservative mps who helped boris johnson one of the conservative mps who helped borisjohnson keep hisjob earlier this year. it was one of the reasons he was promoted to government. but after the allegations of grouping emerged last night there was considerable pressure from senior tories for a zero tolerance approach. tonight it was confirmed mr peintre would be suspended from the tory party and parliament. a spokeswoman for the chief whip said... some parliamentary staff have raised concerns about general allegations not being taken seriously enough. henry and angus both work for mps. as a staff in permanent we know about these rumours and who these people are and receiving mucking around every day. if we now they have been doing these things, how do we know it is a safe place to work? no one was to work in a workplace where _ no one was to work in a workplace wh