Sir Michael Fallon denies he told Andrea Leadsom 'I've got warm place' for cold hands
SIR Michael Fallon was forced to quit after Cabinet colleague Andrea Leadsom accused him of lewd sexual comments, it has been claimed.
Fallon 'denies VULGAR comments' made to Andrea Leadsom
The former Defence Secretary is accused of telling the Commons Leader, who complained of cold hands, “I know where you can put them to warm them up”.
Mrs Leadsom is said to have complained directly to Theresa May about “vile” language used by Sir Michael at a parliamentary meeting six years ago.
She alleges that a “tactile” Sir Michael put his arm round her in what a source said was “unwanted attention”.
Sir Michael is said to be “seething” that Mrs Leadsom’s allegations forced him to quit.
Sir Michael is accused of telling Andrea Leadsom, who complained of cold hands, 'I know where you can put them to warm them up'
A source close to Sir Michael, 65, said: “He categorically denies saying something as appalling as he knows where she could warm her hands.”
Mrs Leadsom is now facing backlash, with one senior Tory asking: “What the f*** does Leadsom think she is doing?”
Sir Michael is also accused of making derogatory comments of a sexual nature about other MPs on the committee, as well as members of public who attended meetings between 2010 and 2012.
Mrs Leadsom’s sensational claims are said to be the central reason for the prime minister’s decision to call for Sir Michael’s resignation on Wednesday.
It comes after the former defence secretary was forced to apologise after repeatedly touching the leg of radio presenter Julia Hartley-Brewer during a dinner 15 years ago.
However, Number 10 refused to refer Sir Michael to the Cabinet for a formal investigation and closed the case.
It was then that Mrs Leadsom demanded to see the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff Gavin Barwell on Tuesday night, according to The Sun.
Sir Michael was forced to face Mrs May on Wednesday after PMQs where he was asked if Mrs Leadsom’s allegations were true.
Sir Michael Fallon announces resignation following allegations
He strongly denied the claims about the hand-warming, but admitted some of his remarks during the committee “might not have been appropriate”.
It was then that Mrs May offered him the opportunity to resign and he accepted, announcing in a statement at 7:30pm on Wednesday that his behaviour had “fallen below the high standards” expected of him, it is claimed.
Mrs Leadsom has now been accused of making the claims to further her own political career.
A source close to Sir Michael said: “If you’re offended by something, why wait six years to say it?
“Is this her way of securing political survival? Nobody’s going to dare to sack a whistleblower are they?”
Another ally added: “He made mistakes in the past, but what the f*** does Leadsom think she’s doing?
“We’re supposed to be a team. Does she want to bring down he whole f****** Government?”
Andrea Leadsom and Downing Street have refused to comment.