Anna Soubry calls on Theresa May to find out what Tory whips know about MPs after her chief of staff and defence secretary accused of ‘sitting on’ claims of abuse
Fresh Conservative civil war breaks out after ex-minister's claims about Gavin Barwell and Gavin Williamson
ANNA Soubry has called on Theresa May to demand the Tory whips tell her what they know about MPs as the swirl of Westminster allegations continues to spiral.
It came after the Prime Minister’s her chief of staff and new defence secretary were accused of “sitting on” claims of abuse.
Ms Soubry is the latest figure to suggest party figures may have known about some of the allegations which have been revealed this week, but did not make them public or take action because they used them as blackmail to get MPs to vote a certain way.
The reports that it understands concerns about the behaviour of Sir Michael Fallon were raised repeatedly in the whips' office when Gavin Barwell was "number three" there. He is now the Prime Minister's chief of staff.
And separately, we now know a serious allegation about Tory MP Charlie Elphicke was made to the office in the same period, before Gavin Williamson became chief whip.
On Thursday Mrs May appointed him as Sir Michael's successor as Defence Secretary.
The newspaper said one senior Conservative said the former whips would face "real difficulties if it emerged that there were a string of people raising concerns and they were not taking it forward".
Ms Soubry, the former defence minister, said: "It's difficult to believe that the whips' office didn't know much of the detail of these various allegations and they probably know more.
“I am astonished that Gavin Williamson was appointed as Defence Secretary."
And this morning she said the PM should step in and find out from the whips what exactly they have known - saying it was "totally unacceptable" groping claims were used as blackmail against MPs.
She told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: "All the stuff that they know must be given to the Prime Minister and we must do things properly, and not behind the scenes, in some instances covering up, which is totally unacceptable.
"But also, when there are allegations, they go to the police or some other body immediately, so we don't have people's reputations trashed in the newspapers. Allegations of a criminal nature must go straight to the police."
But the Home Secretary denied Tory whips keep a "black book" detailing the wrongdoings of MPs.
Amber Rudd told Sky News: "Of course the whips office should share the information with the Prime Minister, but I'm also saying there isn't the, sort of, black book in operation that is sometimes suggested."
And the Transport Secretary Chris Grayling told ITV’s Peston on Sunday that “the idea there is some kind of Whips Office conspiracy is wide of the mark”.
The Home Office minister Sarah Newton, who has served as a Whip in the past, told the BBC’s Sunday Politics she had heard “rumours” about a “black book or a black spreadsheet” of secrets, but had never seen it herself.
She added: “If anybody had brought a complaint to me about the behaviour of one of the MPs that were in my flock, I would take that really seriously.
“But no, that didn’t happen.”
Their comments came as Conservative sources confirmed former Cabinet minister Stephen Crabb has referred for investigation under the party's new code of conduct after admitting sending sleazy text messages to a 19-year-old he interviewed for a job.
The former health minister Dan Poulter has also been referred to his party's disciplinary committee over concerns about his behaviour after a fellow MP accused him of puttig his hadn uip female MPs’ skirts.
A spokesman for Dr Poulter said he "denies all allegations of misconduct or inappropriate behaviour and will vigorously defend himself against any such claims".
And Tory MP Daniel Kawczynski has also been referred to the party's disciplinary committee following allegations about his conduct.
