Garnier gets off after Theresa May ordered investigation into inappropriate behaviour – on the wrong terms
Theresa May said ‘a line should be drawn under the issue’ after utterly failing to oversee a proper investigation [Image: AFP/Getty].
Theresa May ordered that the Cabinet Office should investigate whether Mr Garnier breached the Ministerial Code.
But it is known that his behaviour towards Caroline Edmondson took place before he became a minister – the Ministerial Code was not relevant to it and therefore the result of the investigation is pointless.
This is key point (applies in part to Green investigation). Brings both Ministerial Code and Cabinet Office into disrepute to abuse the process in this way. https://t.co/zjnrOatOjz
— Jonathan Portes (@jdportes) December 21, 2017
The result speaks volumes about Mrs May’s attitude to sexual inappropriateness (let’s call it) by members of her government: She doesn’t care.
In fact, where it does happen, all she wants to do is hide it.
At a time when sexual indiscretions by the powerful against those over whom they have power are being brought into the open – such as the claims against powerful men in Hollywood by the women whose careers they controlled – this is a shocking way for Theresa May to behave.
Remember, she is alleged to have done her best to squash inquiries into historical child sex abuses, especially by members of Parliament.
Looking at her behaviour in this case, can anyone doubt that her actions deserve closer scrutiny?
A Conservative minister who admitted asking his secretary to buy sex toys has been cleared after a Cabinet Office investigation and will keep his job.
There was no evidence that Mark Garnier, the International Trade minister, had “breached the expected standards of behaviour”, the inquiry decided.
Mr Garnier faced the probe after his former secretary, Caroline Edmondson, told the Mail on Sunday he had given her money to buy two vibrators at a Soho sex shop.
On another occasion, he was alleged to have told her – in a bar, in front of witnesses – “You are going nowhere, sugar tits.”
Confusingly, Mr Garnier was investigated for a possible breach of the Ministerial Code of Conduct – although the incidents took place in 2010, before he became a government minister.
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Ah, now we have “Mucky Mark Garnier” to get our teeth into. One by one they are being whittled away – but not nearly quickly enough.