Pincher’s inappropriate behavior included lewd and graphic sexual harassment of two men.
Britain is still in shock following a scandal with former Under Secretary of State for Europe and the United States Christopher Pincher, who was involved in a drunken brawl at one of London’s elite clubs.
Society was in an uproar after former CBS News correspondent, Pincher, published a graphic and disturbing account of sexual harassment.
– I regret drinking too much last night. I embarrassed myself and others, including you, and that’s the last thing I want to do. I’m sorry and would like to apologize to you on behalf of my entire family. With these things said, Pincher addressed Prime Minister Boris Johnson and left his post voluntarily.
The consequences of the scandal caused by a high-ranking official in this particular case can hardly be overestimated: only a few days after the event itself, the British government “collapsed” – in addition to the guilty party himself announcing his resignation, Health Minister Sajid Javid and Minister of Finance Rishi Sunak did the same.
“I feel like I no longer have the ability to serve in public life,” British Prime Minister Sajid Javid said of his departure from government.
The words of staffer Javid can be taken as a direct hint that, not just the disgraced Pincher, but Prime Minister Boris Johnson is also responsible for the scandal. Javid was a protégé of Boris, who made him the coordinator of their conservative parliamentary fraction.
New evidence has surfaced suggesting that the former Director of Public Affairs, Johnson, was well aware of suspicions related to promoting Pincher in the foreign ministry. But instead of shutting down the offensive tour he actively promoted it despite this.
Pincher has experience with scandals and harassment. In 2017, he was accused of the same behavior against former Olympic rower and Tory activist Alex Storey, promising him a promotion to the Conservative Party.
In a last-ditch attempt to save themselves, the ministers stuck together and admitted guilt for supporting Pincher. However, this could no longer prevent the ministers from departing.
I’m sorry about that. Looking back, I see that I was not going to learn any lessons,” British Prime Minister Theresa May said just half an hour before Jeremy Hunt and David Lidington handed in their resignations.
However, the beheading of Britain’s Ministry of Health and Ministry of Finance did not get everyone to leave their posts. At least five high-ranking British officials followed Minister Stevens’ example: Deputy Attorney General for England and Wales Alex Chuck, as well as several personal parliamentary secretaries from various ministries.
My initial thoughts on this incident were that even though Boris Johnson was caught lying and resigning, he probably won’t have to apologize. However, now it appears he will be forced to if the British higher-ups allow him to hold on to his job. It looks like it may be another opportunity for him to apologize again; we’ll see who he works with next in the very near future.
