‘Tatler Tory’ bullying scandal report: Grieving father dismisses findings as ‘whitewash’

Exclusive: 'In one line they are saying that they are completely exonerated and in the next they seem to be saying they recognise the complaints procedure is a complete failure – they can’t have it both ways,' Ray Johnson says

Elliott Johnson was found dead on railway tracks in Bedfordshire (PA)

The father of the Tory activist whose suicide exposed the “Tatler Tory” bullying scandal has branded the report into allegations surrounding his death as “nothing more than a whitewash”.

Ray Johnson, whose son, Elliot Johnson, died after complaining he was being bullied by another activist, Mark Clarke, told The Independent the newly released Tory-commissioned report published amounted to “a cover-up”.

The report states that senior Tories, such as then-cabinet minister Grant Shapps and party chairman Lord Feldman, had no knowledge of bullying claims until around the time of Elliott’s death in the late summer of 2015.

It also withholds key details of allegations that were made against Mr Clarke, who strenuously denies any wrongdoing.

Mr Johnson has consistently campaigning to discover the truth about who knew about Mr Clarke’s alleged bullying of his son and others.

He said: “We’ve had other senior Conservatives in the past go on TV or in writing to say that they themselves saw evidence, which came across their desks – people like Baroness Warsi and Ben Howlett the MP.

“These people in the party saw evidence and passed it on, but the same rhetoric is coming from Conservative central office saying they didn’t see anything. It’s nothing more than a whitewash.”

In a letter sent to Mr Johnson on Wednesday and seen by The Independent, current party chairman Patrick McLoughlin offers his sympathies for the “tragic loss of Elliott’s life”.

He also details how the party will put in place a new complaints procedure and a confidential telephone line for volunteers to report problems.

But he goes on to tell Mr Johnson: “The report and summary are both clear that the Conservative Party acted entirely properly in relation to the complaint received from Elliott in August 2015.”

Mr Johnson did not accept the statement, saying: “In one line they are saying that they are completely exonerated and in the next they seem to be saying they recognise the complaints procedure is a complete failure – they can’t have it both ways.”

He also said the family had been given no early sight of the report before it was handed to the press, adding that the Conservatives had shown a “lack of interest in the family”.

The father added that his solicitors were requesting a fuller copy of the report from CCHQ and would decide what action to take from there.

Mr Clarke, dubbed “Tatler Tory” after being tipped for greatness by the magazine, ran the Conservative’s “Road Trip” operation to bus election campaigners to marginal seats.

Following Elliott’s death, a string of allegations were reported in the press about him. Mr Clarke was later expelled from the party.

The new report looked at how the party dealt with allegations and whether senior figures were told about them before August 2015.

It uncovered six allegations of “sexually inappropriate behaviour” relating to Mr Clarke, saying it was claimed that he had “propositioned activists or tried to kiss them”.

In total it identified 13 individuals who were alleged to have been bullying or harassment victims.

The report goes on to set out how Mr Clarke was on the radar of senior Conservative party staff, including election guru Sir Lynton Crosby, Lord Feldman and Mr Shapps.

But it says this was in relation to Mr Clarke’s inappropriate use of the phoney job title “director in CCHQ” and not for bullying allegations.

Conservative Chairman Sir Patrick McLoughlin said: “The death of Elliott Johnson was a tragedy and our thoughts remain with his family and friends.

“As we address the findings of this report I want to make clear that there can be no place for bullying behaviour in our party and we all have a responsibility to act when it occurs.

“The actions we are taking today will continue to ensure that volunteers, who are so vital to our party, can flourish.”