UK government minister quits amid Conservative bullying row

[rooster59]

UK government minister quits amid Conservative bullying row

LONDON (AP) — A British government minister resigned Saturday amid a crisis over alleged bullying within the governing Conservative Party sparked by the death of a young activist.

International Development Minister Grant Shapps sent a resignation letter to Prime Minister David Cameron, saying "the buck should stop with me."

Shapps was party chairman until May's general election, and has been accused of failing to act on claims of bullying and abusive behavior in the Conservatives' youth wing.

Conservative activist Eliott Johnson, who was 21, was found dead on railway tracks in September in an apparent suicide. He had accused Conservative youth organizer Mark Clarke of bullying.

Clarke denies wrongdoing but was expelled from the party as it emerged that other Conservatives had also accused him of bullying, sexual harassment and blackmail.

The party had previously said it was not aware of any other allegations against Clarke, who ran an operation that sent young activists to campaign in close-fought constituencies during the election.

In his resignation letter, Shapps said that "although neither the party nor I can find any record of written allegations of bullying, sexual abuse or blackmail made to the chairman's office prior to the election, I cannot help but feel that the steady stream of those who raised smaller, more nuanced, objections should have perhaps set alarm bells ringing sooner."

Cameron said Saturday that Johnson's death was "a tragic loss of a talented young life" and said there would be a full party inquiry overseen by an independent lawyer.

-- (c) Associated Press 2015-11-29

[geriatrickid]

It should be obvious that if a 21 year old kills himself he has some mental health issues. It's a cop out to claim "bullying" caused this. He was a grown man. No one sane is going to off himself over silly student politics. Well adjusted, rational kids say FK it, and walk away. If kids today are quick to leave jobs because they don't like the working conditions or wages, they sure as blazes are not going to stick around for some obnoxious knob. No one ever wants to deal with the unpleasant truth of adolescent suicides: people kill themselves because they are mentally ill. There is still a taboo to admit to being mentally ill. Political correctness run amuck.