Wyre Forest Labour brand ministerial code 'unfit for purpose' after Mark Garnier is cleared

The Cabinet Office yesterday (Thursday, December 21) announced the results of its inquiry into Mr Garnier and concluded that he had not breached the ministerial code of conduct following controversial sex toy revelations.

But Stephen Brown, of Wyre Forest Labour, said the decision had rendered the code as unfit for purpose.

In October, the Mail on Sunday reported that Mr Garnier had sent his then PA Caroline Edmondson out to buy two toys from a sex shop in Soho.

She also said the International Trade Minister had called her “sugart**s” in front of witnesses in a bar.

The Trade Minister told the Shuttle in November, that the events that happened in 2010 had been taken "outside of the context" in which they occurred and stressed he hadn't pressurised his former aide into doing anything.

But Mr Brown said: “This Government is so weak, so corrupt, Theresa May can’t even set decent standards for her own MP’s to aspire to if they become Ministers.

“It seems in one foul sweep, she’s rendered any Ministerial Code as not fit for purpose.

“It ensures an MP who calls his female employee ‘sugart**s’ and sends her to buy sex toys can carry on thinking it’s acceptable behaviour, and that us ‘dog end voters’ in Wyre Forest are the problem and not him.

“He’s out of touch and May’s decision will do nothing to assuage the anger of both women and men in Wyre Forest who found his words and actions totally distasteful.

“We still have a long way to go to achieve true equality in the U.K. and people like May, Garnier and their brand of Toryism is the reason why.”

He added: “It also seems what May is actually saying is ‘if it didn’t happen when you’re a minister, anything goes’. No standards apply before ministerial office. Quite remarkable.”

Mr Garnier yesterday told the Shuttle that he was relieved with the result of the enquiry and wanted to concentrate on representing his constituents and his trade role.