Daniel Korski: Tory London mayor hopeful quits race after groping allegation

Daniel Korski has stop the race to be the Tory candidate for London mayor after a TV producer accused him of groping her a decade in the past.

The former Downing Street adviser stated he was pulling out of the race “with a heavy heart” as he continued to disclaim the allegation made by Daisy Goodwin.

Ms Goodwin stated she was “glad” he had withdrawn because it “shows that women can speak out against misbehaviour in the workplace and be believed”.

Politics latest: Tory mayoral race down to two after Korski withdrawal

In a press release asserting his choice, Mr Korski stated: “I categorically deny the allegation in opposition to me. Nothing was ever put to me formally 10 years in the past. Nor seven years in the past 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 stress on my household due to this false and unproven allegation and the shortcoming to get a listening to for my message of ‘The London Dream’ makes it not possible for my marketing campaign to hold on.”

In a message to his campaign team, Mr Korski said he wanted to address the “troubling state of our political panorama”.

He claimed “soiled techniques, smear campaigns and underhanded methods have plagued this course of, threatening the integrity and honesty that ought to outline our celebration”.

Accuser ‘feels completely justified’

Ms Goodwin wrote in The Times earlier this week about her declare that Mr Korski groped her following a gathering 10 years in the past in Downing Street.

Following his choice to drag out of the mayoral race, she stated: “I am glad he has withdrawn – it shows that women can speak out against misbehaviour in the workplace and be believed.”

Ms Goodwin had earlier stated that “other women” had since been in touch together with her about some “very interesting stories, which clearly I can’t talk about for legal reasons”.

“I feel entirely justified in having written a piece and naming him,” she added.

At the time of the alleged incident, Mr Korski was working as an adviser to then prime minister David Cameron.

Ms Goodwin stated she had solely come ahead to call Mr Korski this yr as a result of he was standing for public workplace.

She did, nevertheless, write concerning the allegation in 2017 – albeit with out naming Mr Korski.

Korski ‘advised Tory celebration about allegation throughout vetting’

After he was accused by Ms Goodwin, Mr Korski was requested if the allegation had been disclosed to the Conservative Party in his vetting to be a mayoral candidate.

He advised TalkTV: “Yeah, during the process, I was asked about if there were any outstanding issues the party may be aware of.

“And I stated to the celebration, seven years in the past, there was a narrative. I used to be by no means named within the story.

“As far as I know, there was no investigation. But I did mention this to the party.”

Tory members will vote from 4 to 18 July on their most popular alternative for the London mayoral election subsequent yr, with the winner introduced on 19 July.

The race will see Ms Hall and Mozammel Hossain face down head-to-head, the Conservative Party confirmed, with no new candidates added.

One of Mr Korski’s backers advised Sky News that he had completed the “right thing” within the “developing circumstances”.

Meanwhile, Susan Hall, one of many different Tory mayoral hopefuls, stated Mr Korski “fought a hard campaign with lots of fresh ideas and I appreciate his contribution to the debate”.

“The allegations against him are serious and it is right that they are investigated in the proper way,” she added.

“My focus remains on making my own positive case to members and Londoners in this contest.”