Conservative MP Damian Green has resigned as First Secretary of State over allegations that he used a government computer to access thousands of images of pornographic material.
Mr Green’s resignation was announced on Wednesday evening following an investigation into claims that he had downloaded thousands of pornographic images on his commons computer in 2008 by former Scotland Yard officer Neil Lewis, Sky reports.
The resignation follows a call from Prime Minister Theresa May for Green to resign from his post. Ms May wrote a letter that was published on Wednesday that accepted Green’s resignation.
May wrote, “While I can understand the considerable distress caused to you by some of the allegations which have been made in recent weeks, I know that you share my commitment to maintaining the high standards which the public demands of Ministers of the Crown.”
“It is therefore with deep regret, and enduring gratitude for the contribution you have made over many years, that I asked you to resign from the Government and have accepted your resignation,” she added.
Green had been known as the most powerful man in the British government, and acted as a deputy Prime Minister to Mrs May.
Green, who lashed out at Breitbart News in October declaring the news organisation “fake news” and “dangerous,” had accessed pornographic material described as so “extreme” that an investigating officer claimed “viewing such images was made illegal just weeks later.”
The Ashford MP is also under investigation for allegations of sexual harassment against the writer and academic Kate Maltby who claims that Green touched her knee and sent her a sexually suggestive text message in 2015. Maltby said Green, “offered me career advice and in the same breath made it clear he was sexually interested.”
Only days ago, another investigation was announced into Green’s potential sexual misconduct that is set to be chaired by the parliamentary commissioner for standards Kathryn Hudson. Potential victims of Mr Green have also been urged by investigators to come forward.