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| Mark Garnier sacked: Tory minister who admitted asking secretary to buy sex toys loses job | Mark Garnier sacked: Tory minister who admitted asking secretary to buy sex toys loses job |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Tory MP Mark Garnier has been sacked from his role as international trade minister, as Theresa May's reshuffle enters its second day. | Tory MP Mark Garnier has been sacked from his role as international trade minister, as Theresa May's reshuffle enters its second day. |
| The Member of Parliament for Wyre Forest had previously admitted calling his secretary “sugar t*ts” and asking her to buy sex toys. | The Member of Parliament for Wyre Forest had previously admitted calling his secretary “sugar t*ts” and asking her to buy sex toys. |
| But a Cabinet Office investigation in December cleared him of wrongdoing and found there was no evidence he had “breached the expected standards of behaviour”. | But a Cabinet Office investigation in December cleared him of wrongdoing and found there was no evidence he had “breached the expected standards of behaviour”. |
| Mr Garnier said in a Tuesday morning Twitter post he was “very sad” to have lost his job, but was “looking forward” to supporting the Prime Minister from the backbenches. | Mr Garnier said in a Tuesday morning Twitter post he was “very sad” to have lost his job, but was “looking forward” to supporting the Prime Minister from the backbenches. |
| The father-of-three faced a probe after his former secretary, Caroline Edmondson, told the Mail on Sunday he gave her money to buy two vibrators at a Soho sex shop. | The father-of-three faced a probe after his former secretary, Caroline Edmondson, told the Mail on Sunday he gave her money to buy two vibrators at a Soho sex shop. |
| Ms Edmondson claimed the Tory MP told her one of the sex toys was for his wife and the other was for a female assistant in his West Midlands constituency. | Ms Edmondson claimed the Tory MP told her one of the sex toys was for his wife and the other was for a female assistant in his West Midlands constituency. |
| On another occasion, he was alleged to have told her: “You are going nowhere, sugar t*ts.” | On another occasion, he was alleged to have told her: “You are going nowhere, sugar t*ts.” |
| Mr Garnier admitted the incidents took place, telling the Sunday paper, “I’m not going to be dishonest. I’m going to have to take it on the chin.” | Mr Garnier admitted the incidents took place, telling the Sunday paper, “I’m not going to be dishonest. I’m going to have to take it on the chin.” |
| But he denied the 2010 incident constituted sexual harassment, saying the sex toys were bought after a Christmas lunch and the “vibrator shop was high jinks”. | But he denied the 2010 incident constituted sexual harassment, saying the sex toys were bought after a Christmas lunch and the “vibrator shop was high jinks”. |
| He said his “sugar t*ts” comment was part of “an amusing conversation” about TV programme Gavin And Stacey. | He said his “sugar t*ts” comment was part of “an amusing conversation” about TV programme Gavin And Stacey. |
| Mr Garnier said he and Ms Edmondson later fell out and that she had been using the incident against him “ever since”. | Mr Garnier said he and Ms Edmondson later fell out and that she had been using the incident against him “ever since”. |
| Mr Garnier’s sacking followed the exits of chairman Patrick McLoughlin and Education Secretary Justine Greening. | |
| Critics said the Prime Minister's January reshuffle showed she lacked authority, with Ms Greening and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt rebutting decisions to move them into new roles. | |