Conservative MPs call for Chris Pincher to lose the whip, resign as MP, following latest groping allegations

• Tory backbenchers have called for Chris Pincher to resign as an MP, amid groping allegations.
• Pincher quit as minister and apologised "to those concerned," but did not address the claims directly.

Tory backbenchers have called for Chris Pincher to resign as a member of Parliament after he quit Boris Johnson's government amid claims he drunkenly groped two men.

The minister resigned following several complaints by Conservative colleagues to the whips office, according to The Sun.

One of the individuals who made a complaint to the chief whip, Chris Heaton-Harris, told Insider he was "disgusted by the whole thing."

Pincher, a deputy chief whip, didn't directly address the allegations in his letter to Johnson, but said he "drank far too much" and apologised to the prime minister "and to those concerned."

He said he had "embarrassed myself and other people" at the private members' Carlton Club on Wednesday night, and that resigning his government position was "the right thing to do in the circumstances."

It is the second time he has resigned from the role. The first time was back in 2017 after he was accused of drunkenly making a pass at a former Olympic rower Alex Story. He was also accused at the same time of "touching up" former Labour MP Tom Blenkinsop.

Several Conservative backbenchers told Insider Pincher should resign, noting that colleague Neil Parish had quit his Tiverton & Honiton seat for what they consider a lesser offence.

Pincher sits on a majority of just under 20,000, less than Parish's 24,000 majority that was overturned in the recent by-election.

One said fellow Tories were "going apoplectic" about Downing Street's decision not to suspend Pincher from the party.

He said the Tamworth MP's response was "unsatisfactory" and that it appeared Number 10 was trying to "sweep it under the carpet."

He added: "Neil Parish didn't grope people, he didn't physically invade people's space. It doesn't add up to me."

Past accusations meant Pincher should never have been made deputy chief whip earlier this year, the MP said.

"The Liaison Committee is meeting next Wednesday — I am sure the prime minister will not want to be asked why he gave this role to him."

A second senior Tory MP echoed that, saying: "What was anyone thinking, making him a whip?"

Another senior backbencher told Insider there was a growing push to have Pincher suspended.

A fourth added: "Colleagues are asking that the whip is removed… He obviously should go, I think he will end up going, but that may depend on the press.

"The risk is that we find out how much they knew when appointing him."

Neither CCHQ nor Pincher immediately responded to requests for comment.