Daniel Korski has pulled out of the race to be the Conservative candidate for London mayor. The former adviser to David Cameron cited the allegation by TV producer Daisy Goodwin that he had groped her during a meeting at 10 Downing Street in 2013 as the reason he is withdrawing.
In his statement announcing the news, Korski said he continued to ‘categorically’ deny the allegation against him. However, he said that the pressure on his family as a result of the claims meant that he felt he had no choice but to drop out of the race:
‘I categorically deny the allegation against me. Nothing was ever put to me formally ten years ago. Nor seven years ago when the allegation was alluded to. No investigation has ever taken place. I have been clear I would welcome and constructively participate in any investigation. However, the pressure on my family because of this false and unproven allegation and the inability to get a hearing for my message of ‘The London Dream’ makes it impossible for my campaign to carry on.’
Korski was certainly struggling to talk about anything else since Goodwin gave her version of events in an article for the Times earlier this week. Goodwin has since said that other women have got in touch with ‘interesting stories’.
The fallout meant that even Korski’s more loyal supporters were questioning the wisdom of him staying in the race, regardless of who is in the right. His Tory MP supporters, too, have felt the heat – facing questions on whether they still backed Korski. It has not helped matters that the complaints process is rather complicated: CCHQ said it was a matter for the Cabinet Office given the alleged incident occurred in Downing Street ten years ago.
Daisy Goodwin has since said that other women have got in touch with ‘interesting stories’
So, where does this leave the mayoral race? The Tories already face an uphill path in London, with Labour surging ahead in the polls.
Two approved Tory candidates remain in the race: Susan Hall, the long-serving assembly member, and Mozammel Hossain, a politics newbie in comparison. Expect supporters of some of the candidates who didn’t make the shortlist – such as the minister Paul Scully – to argue that another candidate should be added so there are three to pick from.
Many in the Tory party view next year’s mayoral contest as a chance for the Conservatives to rebuild in London, rather than win, despite the backlash against Ulez. It means there has been an interest in finding a slightly different type of Tory candidate with metropolitan appeal. The events of this week have shown how hard that is proving to be.
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