Sir Michael Fallon has
resigned as the U.K. secretary of defense. This is reported by several news outlets. Hence, he's the first member of Parliament to step down in the midst of a growing harassment of Westminster scandal.
In a resignation letter
to British Prime Minister Theresa May, Fallon reflected on his past behavior,
and allegations of harassment and unwanted flirtation that have recently come
to light against him.
Thus, “a number of
allegations have surfaced about MPs in recent days, including some about my
previous conduct,” he wrote. “Many of these have been false but I accept in the
past I have fallen below the high standards that we require of the armed forces
that I have the honour to represent.”
May reportedly responded saying: “I appreciate the characteristically serious manner in which
you have considered your position, and the particular example you wish to set
to servicemen and women and others.”
The Conservative
politician admitted Tuesday that he acted inappropriately toward Julia
Hartley-Brewer, a female journalist, by touching her knee in 2002.
Hartley-Brewer subsequently responded on Twitter, saying “no one was remotely upset or distressed” by the incident.
Fallon reportedly quit
because he could not guarantee there would not be another story about allegedly
inappropriate contact with a female journalist, according to HuffPost UK. His
replacement will be announced on Thursday.
If “kneegate” is the
reason behind Fallon’s resignation, Hartley-Brewer told Sky News, “this is the
most insane, absurd and ridiculous resignation of a cabinet minister ever.”
British Members of
Parliament have been tackling the issue of sexual harassment within Westminster
in recent weeks, after the news of scores of sexual allegations against
American film producer Harvey Weinstein emboldened several female MPs to come
forward with their own stories of unwanted sexual advances.
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