Conservative Party aide Mark Clarke has been expelled from the party for life following complaints of bullying.
A party spokesman confirmed that Mr Clarke, who ran the party’s Roadtrip 2015 campaign that bused young activists around the country, has been informed he is barred for life from the party.
The party also said it was longer authorising the Roadtrip campaign.
Mr Clarke was suspended in September following the suicide of young activist Elliott Johnson, who alleged in a note he had been bullied by Mr Clarke. It soon emerged that numerous other activists had made complaints against him, with some women alleging sexual harassment.
One activist told Breitbart London: “He was threatening young women, claiming that he could influence the Conservative Party’s selection process and candidates list.”
It was also reported this weekend that Mr Clarke had allegedly tried to blackmail the party’s deputy chairman, Rob Halfon, after getting an ally to take pictures of Mr Halfon and his mistress leaving a London club.
The party issued a statement saying:
In the light of information that has come to our knowledge this week, Mark Clarke’s membership of the Conservative Party has been cancelled for life. This means he cannot be a candidate or represent the Party in any way.
Mark Clarke’s Party membership was suspended in September 2015, following allegations of bullying and inappropriate behaviour.
The Party does not tolerate bullying or any other improper behaviour. Lord Feldman acted immediately to set up an internal disciplinary inquiry as soon as he received the allegations in August 2015, of which he was previously wholly unaware.
Furthermore the Party’s lawyers and the Party Board’s disciplinary committee will continue to investigate complaints received in relations to Roadtrip2015. Also, it is confirmed that Roadtrip is no longer authorised as a campaigning entity for the Conservative Party.
Going forward, we will ensure that all groups affiliated to the Conservative Party formally adopt the harassment and anti-bullying policy of CCHQ, as contained in the staff handbook.
The Party will continue to make available on an ongoing basis to all Party members and activists the counselling service provided by Westfield Health.
The Guido Fawkes blog reports that an exposé into bullying allegations within the Conservative Party is scheduled to air tonight on BBC Newsnight.
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