Page 60 - Londra Gazete Sayı 1113

Londra Gazete, 07 July 2022 LondraGazete.com/English 5

MP ‘was aware’ of allegations of

sexual misconduct against MP

BORIS Johnson “was aware” of
previous allegations of sexual mis-
conduct against Chris Pincher when
he promoted him this year, No 10
has admitted.
The prime minister’s spokesman
also did not deny he used the phrase
Starmer:Labour would not seek “Pincher by name, pincher by na-
ture” against the former deputy
to rejoin EU or single market chief whip – who quit and is now be-
ing investigated for alleged groping.
Last week, No 10 insisted Mr
LABOUR leader Sir Keir Starmer “We cannot afford to look back Johnson was unaware of any spe-
has ruled out rejoining the EU or over our shoulder because all the cific allegations against the MP but
the single market if his party comes time we are doing that we are miss- has since acknowledged he “was
to power, insisting rejoining would ing what is ahead of us. aware of media reports” and of “al-
create more division in Britain. “So let me be very clear. Under legations that were either resolved lish if allegations could be substan- ture” long before the appointment
In what he called a five-point plan Labour, Britain will not go back into or did not progress to a formal tiated and indicated Mr Pincher was in February.
to “make Brexit work”, he said the the EU. We will not be joining the complaint”, when Mr Pincher was not asked about them directly. But the spokesman said: “I’m
He also said No 10 has no plan simply not going to comment on
party would also not seek to join a single market. We will not be join- appointed in February a spokeman to investigate the process that led content of what was or wasn’t said
has said.
customs union. ing a customs union.” However, he continued to insist to his appointment, amid reports in private conversations” going to
He said Labour would reveal more Sir Keir said the “starting point" that in the absence of any formal that Downing Street was specifically say he had not asked Mr Johnson
about how it intends to grow the of Labour’s plan for making Brexit complaint against him, it would not warned against it. if the claim is true. Mr Pincher was
economy, but the first step was to work is to “sort out the Northern have been “appropriate” to block Dominic Cummings, Mr John- stripped of the Conservative whip
make a success of leaving the EU. Ireland Protocol". promotion to a role with responsi- son’s former chief aide, has alleged after he was accused of drunkenly
In a speech to the Centre for Euro- While admitting Labour would bility for MPs’ welfare. that the prime minister referred groping two men at a Conservative
pean Reform at an event at the Irish not be able to deliver “completely The spokesman was also unable to to the former deputy chief whip as private members’ club in London,
Embassy in London, he said: “There frictionless” trade with the EU out- say what efforts were made to estab- “Pincher by name, pincher by na- last Wednesday.
are some who say, ‘We don’t need to side the bloc, he insisted the par-
make Brexit work - we need to re- ty would eliminate “most border
verse it’. I couldn’t disagree more. checks created by the Tory Brexit Scotland Yard drops sexual harassment
“Because you cannot move for- deal”.
ward or grow the country or deliv- It would also work with business
er change or win back the trust of to put in place a “better scheme" inquiry into MP
those who have lost faith in politics to allow low-risk goods to enter
if you’re constantly focused on the Northern Ireland without “unnec- SCOTLAND Yard has dropped was “profoundly sorry” after being
arguments of the past. essary checks", he said. its sexual harassment investigation found by a parliamentary inquiry
into MP Patrick Grady. to have acted inappropriately to-
The Metropolitan Police said on wards an SNP staff member.
Sunday that no further action was A spokesman for the Met said:
PM's 40 new hospitals pledge faces being taken against the MP for “On Wednesday June 22 police re-
ceived a third party allegation of
watchdog review Glasgow North after officers sexual assault that is said to have
spoke to the alleged victim. taken place in October 2016 at a
THE Conservatives' 2019 election concerns that works commissioned The former chief whip for the commercial premises in Folgate
pledge to build 40 new hospitals by were refurbishments or alterations, SNP resigned his party member- Street, E1.
2030 faces a review by the govern- not "new hospitals". ship after police began investigat- “Officers carried out enquiries in-
ment's spending watchdog. NAO comptroller Gareth Davies ing an incident in an east London cluding speaking to the alleged vic-
Shadow health secretary Wes said in a letter to Mr Streeting, first pub in 2016. tim. “There will be no further police
Streeting asked for an investigation reported by the Observer: "I can con- Mr Grady told the Commons he action at this time.”
into delays surrounding the pro- firm that I already have plans to start
gramme and warned of taxpayers' a value for money review of the New
money being wasted. Hospitals Programme later this year New public buildings must have separate
The National Audit Office (NAO) and to report my findings during
intends to conduct a "value for mon- 2023." toilets, says minister
ey review" later this year, its comp- Mr Davies added: "I note your
troller said. comments about the implications of SCOTLAND The government has ry, trans people first mooted last year, would mean
Mr Streeting accused the Tories of delay for increasing costs at this said it wants all new public build- can face intrusive challenges women, who may have to use fa-
"overpromising and underdeliver- time of high inflation and the mat- ings in England to have separate when using male or female toilets. cilities more often, for example
ing". ter of whether all projects truly meet male and female toilets. Equali- The government announcement because of pregnancy and sanitary
The 2019 Conservatives' mani- the classification of 'new hospitals'." ties minister Kemi Badenoch said draws a distinction between gen- needs, were guaranteed "appropri-
festo said: "We will build and fund it was "vital that women feel safe" der-neutral toilets - which have ate facilities".
40 new hospitals over the next 10 and "that their needs are respect- shared waiting and hand-washing The government's plans, which
years." ed".The "rise in gender-neutral toi- facilities along with a number of will require changes to building
Boris Johnson repeated this prom- lets" meant female users had felt cubicles - and unisex toilets, which regulations and guidance, follow
ise, and has spoken of "40 more hos- "unfairly disadvantaged" and faced are single, standalone facilities a call for evidence which began in
late 2020.
longer queues, the government used by both genders.
pitals". However, a "new" hospital added. But transgender rights The government says separate A further technical consultation
has not been defined as solely a new groups argue gender-neutral toilets unisex - or universal - toilets should will begin in the autumn, looking at
construction. can protect trans people from dis- be provided in new public buildings the design of unisex self- contained
Labour MP Mr Streeting said crimination.The rights groups say if there is space, but should not be cubicles to improve privacy, and
many NHS trusts are still waiting that, along with other people who installed at the expense of female what improvements are needed for
for funds to be allocated, and raised do not conform to the gender bina- toilets. It said the revised approach, disabled toilets.