Tory in No 10 ‘groper’ row forced out of London mayor race
Daniel Korski continues to ‘categorically’ deny Daisy Goodwin’s claim he fondled her breast – but says row has become ‘distraction’
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Your support makes all the difference.A Tory London mayoral candidate accused of touching a woman’s breast in Downing Street sensationally quit the race on Wednesday, hours after the prime minister waded into the row.
Daniel Korski insisted that he “categorically” denied the allegations, which date from a decade ago when he was an aide to then-PM David Cameron, but said they had become a “distraction” for his party.
TV producer Daisy Goodwin, who created the ITV drama Victoria, claims Mr Korski groped her at the end of a meeting in No 10.
Shortly before Mr Korski stood down, Ms Goodwin said three more women had contacted her with “similar experiences” since she went public on Monday night.
The prime minister also encouraged other women to come forward, while No 10 described the allegations as “very serious”.
Ms Goodwin also confirmed she had made a formal complaint to the government and was “happy” to submit another to the Conservative Party, which was facing mounting questions over its refusal to investigate.
Amid growing pressure to pull out of the race, Mr Korski saw supporters desert his cause.
Claire Coutinho, the children’s minister, distanced herself from the campaign before he stood down, saying her backing was “on pause”.
In a statement, Mr Korski said he had decided “with a heavy heart” to withdraw from the race.
He blamed the pressure on his family from “this false and unproven allegation” and said it meant he was unable to get a hearing for his campaign message.
Ms Goodwin said she was “glad” he had withdrawn. “It shows that women can speak out against misbehaviour in the workplace and be believed,” she said.
“If I was in the ethics department of the Cabinet Office, I would be wondering why such behaviour went unchecked in Downing Street,” she added.
Ms Goodwin had earlier appeared to quote Mandy Rice-Davies’s infamous quote about the Profumo scandal when asked about Mr Korski’s denials. “He would say that, wouldn’t he?” she told the BBC.
In a statement, Mr Korski said: “I categorically deny the allegation against me. Nothing was ever put to me formally ten years ago. Nor seven years ago when the allegation was alluded to. No investigation has ever taken place. I have been clear I would welcome and constructively participate in any investigation.
“However, the pressure on my family because of this false and unproven allegation and the inability to get a hearing for my message ... makes it impossible for my campaign to carry on.”
Ms Goodwin said that during the meeting in Downing Street, Mr Korski rested his feet on the edge of her chair, before “leaning back so that I could get a clear view of his crotch”. Ms Goodwin said he stepped towards her and “suddenly put his hand on my breast” at the end of the meeting.
Mr Korski had “categorically” denied any wrongdoing, claiming that a “baseless allegation from the past has resurfaced”.
Earlier on Wednesday, Downing Street declined to say whether the PM believed Mr Korski was a suitable candidate or if he should suspend his campaign, but described the allegations as “very serious” and said they “should be handled in the proper way”.
Asked if the PM would encourage anyone with complaints against former staff members to come forward, his press secretary said: “Yes, of course.”
Ms Goodwin said she has been contacted by other women with “some very interesting stories” that made her “feel entirely justified” about making the allegations against Mr Korski.
She confirmed she had submitted a complaint to the Cabinet Office, although she said it was “harder than trying to get a telephone engineer”. Ms Goodwin alleged that three other women had told her they had “similar experiences” with Mr Korski after her allegation was published in The Times on Monday.
Speaking to Times Radio, Ms Goodwin said: “I didn’t know of anybody who had had an experience like that with Daniel Korski, until I wrote my piece. And when it was published, I was contacted by three women who’d had similar experiences. So I felt justified in having written the piece, because, as I suspected, I realised I was not the only woman.”
The Independent understands London minister Paul Scully would be prepared to stand in the race if Tory HQ reopened the shortlist, having missed out on making the final list of three candidates.
Friends of the former frontrunner said he is deeply “frustrated” having watched Mr Korski’s campaign “implode”. It was “never a career move” for Mr Scully, one said, “he knew it was going to be challenging but wanted to do the job”.
And a senior Tory MP told The Independent: “CCHQ must immediately go back to the drawing board and reopen the shortlist so those who were farcically overlooked the first time round can have a fair hearing.” However, the party said it intended to continue with just two candidates.
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