British PM's deputy quits over conduct probe

International Desk: British Prime Minister Theresa May has lost one of her closest allies with the resignation of Damian Green from the UK Cabinet as her First Secretary of State, effectively the deputy prime minister, after an investigation found that he had breached the ministerial code.

A review by the cabinet secretary found that Green's statements which suggested he was not aware that indecent material was found in 2008 on parliamentary computers in his office, were "inaccurate and misleading".

On November 1 Kate Maltby, a journalist 30 years Damian Green's junior, alleged that he had made an inappropriate advance towards her.

But a report's conclusions found that Green's official version of events "were inaccurate and misleading", May's letter goes on to say.

The inquiry was triggered after Kate Maltby, who is three decades younger than Mr Green, claimed he "fleetingly" touched her knee during a meeting in a pub in 2015 and a year later sent her a "suggestive" text message after she was pictured wearing a corset in a newspaper.

Green's departure strips her of one of the most loyal members of her government as she seeks to steer Britain's path out of the European Union and rescue her struggling premiership.

In his resignation letter Green indicated he would stay on as a lawmaker, thanking his constituents for their support and vowing to "continue to argue for the modernising conservatism I have always believed in". We have been friends and colleagues throughout our whole political lives - from our early days at university, entering the House of Commons at the same election, and serving alongside each other both in Opposition and in Government.

Green, who May appointed First Secretary of State in June, was effectively the prime minister's deputy before standing down.

Overall, Mr Green's conduct as a minister "has generally been both professional and proper", it said.

When allegations were raised about your personal conduct, I asked the Cabinet Secretary to establish as far as possible the facts of the case and provide advice on whether or not there had been a breach of the Ministerial Code.

"I know that you share my commitment to maintaining the high standards which the public demands of ministers of the Crown", May added.

Source: Agencies

risingbd/Dhaka/Dec 21, 2017/AI