Ukip clears Roger Bird of impropriety over sexual harassment claims
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Version 0 of 1. Roger Bird, the Ukip general secretary, has been cleared by an inquiry of sexually harassing the aspiring parliamentary candidate Natasha Bolter. But Bird has agreed with Ukip to stand down early as general secretary following what the party described as unfortunate publicity after Bolter accused him of having invited her back to his London club on the day of her initial interview to become a parliamentary candidate. Ukip will hope the inquiry’s swift conclusion will draw a line under the episode, which contributed to a difficult few weeks for the party after its victory in the Rochester and Strood byelection. Bird was suspended as the Ukip general secretary earlier this month after Bolter claimed that he had sexually harassed her during her attempt to become the party’s candidate in the target seat of South Basildon and East Thurrock. But Bird released 10 text messages from Bolter to prove his claim that they had been in a brief consensual relationship this autumn. Ukip said the independent inquiry had accepted Bird’s explanation. A spokesman said: “Ukip has concluded its inquiry into allegations regarding its general secretary, Roger Bird. The inquiry was conducted by an independent HR consultancy, to ensure that these serious allegations were fully, impartially and carefully investigated. “As a result of the investigation, the party accepts Mr Bird’s statement that the personal relationship between him and Ms Bolter was consensual and found no evidence to support the allegation of sexual harassment. In addition, the party is satisfied that Mr Bird’s actions did not compromise the integrity of its candidate selection process, and indeed that the circumstances of the case underline the robust nature of the party’s assessment, approval and candidate-vetting system.” But it said the party had mutually agreed that he would stand down as general secretary. “Given the unfortunate publicity stimulated by media speculation, it has been mutually agreed to bring Mr Bird’s fixed-term contract of employment to an earlier conclusion. The party would like to thank Mr Bird for his contribution and valued service over the past five months.” Bird said: “I am very glad that the party has investigated and dismissed the allegations of sexual harassment and any impropriety regarding the selection of Ms Bolter as a candidate. I wish Ukip every success in the election campaign. I remain a member and keen supporter of the party and I will continue to make every effort to help our candidates to victory in May.” The episode contributed to a difficult end to 2014 for Ukip after its most successful year: it won a national poll for the first time – the European parliamentary elections – before capturing two Westminster seats in the Clacton and the Rochester and Strood byelections. The success was quickly overshadowed by the battle for the Ukip nomination in South Basildon and East Thurrock. Kerry Smith, the eventual candidate, was forced to stand down after the Mail on Sunday published details from a taped telephone call in which he spoke of “poofters” and referred to a Chinese woman as “chinky”. Smith was selected for the seat after Neil Hamilton, the former Tory MP at the heart of the cash-for-questions scandal in the mid-1990s, abandoned his run after details of his expenses were published. Natasha Bolter had by then withdrawn from the contest after claiming that she had been harassed by Bird. But questions were raised about her account and over her claims to have studied, as Bird did, at Oxford. The university said it had no record of her as a student. |