UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon resigns amid Westminster 'sex pest' scandal

November 1, 2017 at 16:19

The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that Michael Fallon has resigned as defence secretary after admitting his behavior in the past may have "fallen short."

In his resignation letter to May, Fallon wrote: “A number of allegations have surfaced about MPs in recent days, including some about my previous conduct. Many of these have been false, but I accept that in the past I have fallen below the high standards that we require of the Armed Forces that I have the honor to represent. I have reflected on my position and I am therefore resigning as Defence Secretary.”

Fallon added that he would still work hard as an MP for his Sevenoaks constituents.

Michael Fallon's resignation letter pic.twitter.com/iJJ61QRFXh
— Archie Bland (@archiebland) November 1, 2017

He is the first minister to step down from Theresa May's government in the growing scandal about sexual harassment at Westminster.

Fallon admitted earlier to inappropriately touching a female journalist. He insisted that he apologized over the incident 15 years ago, however, and that he and the journalist considered the matter closed.

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