British minister to be probed over sexual harassment
29 Oct 2017 10:10 PM IST
LONDON: British Prime Minister Theresa May has ordered an investigation into a report that one of her ministers asked a female secretary to buy sex toys for him, as she tries to tackle a culture of sexual harassment in politics.
Mark Garnier, a junior international trade minister, asked secretary Caroline Edmondson to buy two sex toys and he also called her "sugar tits", the Mail on Sunday reported.
Garnier told the newspaper that the comment was part of an amusing conversation about a television show, and that asking her to buy the toys was "good humoured high jinks".
Edmondson, in comments to the paper, disputed Garnier's recollection of the incidents, including his assertion that they were "high jinks".
Garnier was not immediately available for comment to Reuters through his constituency or parliamentary offices.
The report comes after May's spokeswoman said on Friday any unwanted sexual behaviour was "completely unacceptable" and any minister who acted inappropriately would face "serious action".
She was reacting to a report in another British newspaper that described a culture of sexual harassment among lawmakers and their staff working in parliament.
Health minister Jeremy Hunt said on Sunday May had asked officials to investigate if Garnier, whose role is outside the cabinet immediately surrounding the May, had broken the government ministers' code of behaviour.
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