Sir Michael Fallon is facing a new grope claim after a third woman came forward with allegations against the ex-Defence Secretary.
She is said to have accused the MP of inappropriate physical contact just hours after it emerged that his rival Andrea Leadsom had lodged a complaint.
It was today claimed that Mrs Leadsom ‘knifed’ Fallon after he branded her a ‘dud’ who would need to be sacked to push through a Brexit deal.
A friend of the 65-year-old says that no specific allegation has been put to him and that he is unaware of the woman’s identity. She is not thought to be a politician.
A friend of Fallon says that no specific allegation has been put to him and that he is unaware of the woman’s identity. She is not thought to be a politician
Anna Soubry told said the prime minister’s team was approached by a ‘person with great courage’ who made allegations against Fallon.
‘Michael Fallon had to resign because of his behaviour towards women,’ she said.
‘One person with great courage made a complaint to No 10 of sexual assault.
‘Theresa May made it very clear she took these allegations seriously and within hours he had gone.’
The former defence secretary has described the allegation as untrue and libellous.
‘I’ve already accepted that I have behaved inappropriately in the past but I have never physically assaulted anybody,’ he said, adding no specific allegation was put to him.
Police have not received a formal report of any alleged misconduct and Number 10 has not commented
Ms Soubry refused to discuss details of the allegations, saying it is essential the woman’s anonymity is preserved.
‘I think it’s really important to protect people [making complaints],’ she said.
‘This is very serious. We are talking about real human beings and protecting people who [claim to] have been abused, however serious or less serious it may be, it was for them extremely serious and they deserve to be protected and they deserve to be respected.’
It followed claims by radio host Julia Hartley Brewer that Fallon repeatedly put his hand on her knee 15 years ago.
He resigned on Wednesday warning that there could be further revelations about his conduct with women as sources compared him to ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ while drinking.
In a resignation statement, the Defence Secretary, 65, said his past behaviour had ‘fallen below the high standards we require of the Armed Forces’.
People close to the MP acknowledged he had been braced for the possibility of more claims about his behaviour and three years ago he was accused of calling journalist Bryony Gordon a ‘slut’ at a party.
After the latest allegation, Sir Michael told The Sun: “I’ve already accepted that I may have behaved inappropriately in the past. That’s why I resigned”.
Andrea Leadsom, pictured left, and Julia Hartley Brewer, right, have both made allegations against Fallon
It comes amid a sexual harassment scandal that is sweeping Westminster (stock photo)
Yesterday it emerged that Mrs Leadsom, the Leader of the Commons, complained directly to Theresa May about ‘vile’ language used by Sir Michael towards her at a parliamentary meeting six years ago.
He is said to have told Mrs Leadsom, who had complained of cold hands: ‘I know where you can put them to warm them up.’
Sir Michael is alleged to have been ‘tactile’ and put his arm around Mrs Leadsom in what a source described as ‘unwanted attention’.
However there was a backlash against Mrs Leadsom who was accused of speaking out to further her own career.
One senior Tory raged: ‘What the f*** does Leadsom think she is doing?’