Minister says govt take harassment ‘extremely seriously’ after Stanley Johnson allegation

Security minister Damien Hinds has said the government take harassment and violence towards women “extremely seriously” after former minister Caroline Nokes told Sky News that the Prime Minister’s father Stanley Johnson had touched her inappropriately at the Conservative Party Conference in 2003.

Stanley Johnson told Sky News reporters that he “has no recollection” of the alleged incident.

When asked during the Sky News Breakfast programme this morning how the party would investigate the allegations, Mr Hinds said: “I don’t know the details of the allegation” and that he could thus not comment on any possible investigation.

“Overall” reducing harassment and violence against women was a “real priority for government”, he emphasised.