Damian Green sacked after 'misleading statements' on porn claims

[dutchman]

Damian Green, one of Theresa May's closest allies, has been sacked from the cabinet after an inquiry found he had breached the ministerial code



He was "asked to quit" after he was found to have made "inaccurate and misleading" statements about what he knew about claims pornography was found on his office computer in 2008.

He also apologised for making writer Kate Maltby feel uncomfortable in 2015.

Laura Kuenssberg said the PM "had little choice but to ask him to go".

The BBC's political editor said the departure of a close friend left Mrs May a "lonelier figure".

The 61-year old Mr Green, who as first secretary of state was effectively the PM's deputy, is the third cabinet minister to resign in the space of two months, Michael Fallon and Priti Patel having both quit in November.

In her written response, Mrs May expressed "deep regret" at Mr Green's departure but said his actions "fell short" of the conduct expected of a cabinet minister.

He had been under investigation regarding allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards journalist and Tory activist Ms Maltby. He denied suggestions that he made unwanted advances towards her in 2015.

He also denied that he had either downloaded or viewed pornography on a computer removed from his Commons office in 2008.

An official report by the Cabinet Office found that two statements he had made in November about being unaware pornographic material had been found on a computer in his office were "inaccurate and misleading" and constituted a breach of the ministerial code.

The report also found that although there were "competing and contradictory accounts of what were private meetings" between himself and Ms Maltby, the investigation found her account "to be plausible".

In his resignation letter, Mr Green said statements he made about what he knew about the pornography could have been "clearer", conceding his lawyers had been informed by lawyers for the Met Police about their initial discovery in 2008 and the police had also raised the matter within him in a phone call in 2013.

"I apologise that my statements were misleading on this point," he said.

[rebbonk]

Hope the door didn't hit him too hard on his way out.