Boris’s Grope?

She is a journalist called Charlotte Edwards & is referring to alleged incident in 1999.

Gravygranny13
Some sources say Charlotte Edwards (ex-cricketer) is his girlfriend, some say Charlotte Edwardes. They are dfferent people and there's certainly confusion about it on the internet.

Oops

As I then went onto say, the question should not be ‘why is she going public now’, the question should be ‘why does this man think it’s appropriate to behave in this way’. Let’s reframe the question to deal with the real issue here.

Both questions should be being asked

I agree - but both are not being asked on this thread. It’s interesting that women on here are questioning the motivation of the woman, rather than questioning the behaviour of the man. It’s known as victim shaming and it needs to stop.

Timing? Who would have been interested in a journalist being groped by an MP or city mayor? It would have been ignored. As a potential insight into the character of the country's PM it carries much more weight.

I've just thought to check dates and according to Wiki he didn't become an MP until 2001. So presumably he was a journalist at the time of the alleged incident. I doubt anyone would have listened to the complainant when it happened.

It's quite obvious that she's done this in order to mud sling and get people to read her new column.

How is it 'obvious'? It may be your opinion; but it is not remotely obvious, unless you have psychic powers of some sort.

Why not when he was mayor of London, or foreign secretary
or an MP .

I am certainly not defending the man but 20 years and the many times he has made headlines by his philandering she
chooses to speak out now !

Well SirChenjin, I suspect we all think /know he is a sleaze ball , I certainly would t want to sit next to him or share a lift (car or elevator) with hi. but neither do I like cynical political game playing
It does such a disservice & damage to us ladies who may have also / really suffered at the hands of men.

particularly those who think the man concerned can do no wrong

Who has written that?

I think Boris is a bit of a walking calamity and his personal life if scrutinised (and if those accusing him are to be believed) is a nasty mess.

However, if as PM he works his socks off to throw off his political detractors and bring about Brexit, the scandals mean very little to the voter and general public.

No one endorses sexual abuse just because they think Boris Johnson is doing a good job as PM and attempting to sort out the Brexit mess in defying the remainer HOC trying to stop us leaving the EU.

It is up to the victim when she speaks out. It should not have to be done at a time of least inconvenience to the accused.

Sexual assaults are not always easy to talk about - particularly when the victim knows that doing so will lead to media attention and woman-haters automatically assuming that she is 'obviously' telling lies.

It might be difficult to prove, but if there were witnesses, or other women who have suffered the same treatment, they can come forward and support her. If not, (and sadly this sort of thing, by its very nature usually happens so that there are no witnesses) then she risks being vilified even more. Look at the Weinstein case.

I think she has been brave, as whatever happens, her reputation will never be the same.

He was the editor of the Spectator, at the time.

Perhaps the difference is that he is now PM and there have been many questions in recent weeks about his behaviour, in his personal life, whilst London Mayor and recently in the Commons.

Therefore such matters take on an increased significance, particularly in the light of doubts about his fitness for office.

particularly those who think the man concerned can do no wrong
Nobody on here in relation to Johnson - directly anyway. I was deliberately not using his name, or referring to this case, as my point was more general.

I'm thinking of cases where footballers have been accused of rape, and the dreadful things that were said about the accuser. The Prince Andrew case also comes to mind.

Oops - my quoting was off in my last post. I was answering the question 'who has written that?'

It's a smear campaign on Boris its plainly obvious by remainers because the clocks ticking and they are getting desperate. I couldn't care less about his private life or his affairs he's our best bet to deliver Brexit.

I consider him to be a serial womaniser , I bet he was trying it on like a lot of men do. He can't remember because it was just a regular occurrence.

Just to clarify, I am totally supportive to all who have suffered any unwanted physical attention or worse.
IF this incident is being cynically used to discredit ( the already discredited Boris) then IMO it is yet another disservice to women, & as such does us no service.

When BJ was Foreign Secretary everyone wanted rid of him. Why didn't she raise the matter then?
20 years ago just about every TV talk show host used to tap the thigh of guests, it was considered a sign of endearment or understanding. Or an indication like ‘come on its time to go’.

Firecracker123 that's a dangerous line to take, not caring about the private life of someone in a position of immense power nationally. Or even in other positions of responsibility. How about your grandchildren's headmaster, your GP or plumber with a sleazy personal life? Wouldn't that make you uncomfortable?

In light of a couple of recent posts I ask again - why does this man think it’s ok to behave in this way?

And can we all remember that what will be "delivered" (it's not a letter!) will only be the very beginning of many miserable years of negotiations, wrangling and law-making, and not in any sense an ending.

I'm really not sure what her relationship, if there is one, to Robert Peston has to do with it. Amelia Gentleman is married to Jo Johnson. That didn't stop her attacking the tory government, of which her husband was a member, over the Windrush scandal.

I wonder if the other woman said to be involved will come forward.

I'm absolutely with SirChengin on this one.

I think Nortsat is right. Now is the time his actions with women are in the spotlight because of the affair with the American businesswoman/model who seems to have had preferential treatment in both trade missions and financial support.

Also, the person who accused him of upper-thigh leg squeezing had told several people about it at the time.

It is some years since Amber Rudd said he was not someone you wished to have a lift home with. - I hadn't heard this before but, if so, Amber Rudd obviously knew or had heard something years ago.

And you're right SirChengin.