The Tory MP who accused Boris Johnson’s father of slapping her bottom nearly 20 years ago has been targeted with rape threats.
Caroline Nokes MP shared some of the vicious abuse sent to her online after she claimed Stanley groped her in 2003.
It comes as Labour urged the Tories to launch a probe following claims from her and journalist Ailbhe Rea over an alleged incident in 2019.
Former minister Ms Nokes first accused Stanley of forcefully smacking her on the backside at the Tory Party conference in 2003, ahead of him running to be an MP.
Her allegation prompted political reporter Ms Rea to say she was ‘groped’ by the former member of the European Parliament at the party conference in 2019.
Stanley declined to comment other than to say he has ‘no recollection of Caroline Nokes at all’.
Meanwhile the Tories are yet to say if a probe will be launched and No 10 declined to comment on the claims against the ‘private individual’.
Senior Conservative MP Caroline Nokes (left), 49, and New Statesman journalist Ailbhe Rea (right) have both accused Stanley Johnson of inappropriately touching them
Stanley declined to comment other than to say he has ‘no recollection of Caroline Nokes at all’
Ms Nokes revealed some of the vicious hate posted to her on social media last night after her claims emerged.
She wrote on Twitter: ‘And to [man’s name] – thank you for your email tonight: ”I wish he had raped you you filthy Tory wh***.”’
She added: ‘That is the level of discourse women MPs have to deal with, every single day.’
Ms Nokes, chair of the Commons Women and Equalities Committee, suggested the PM’s father inappropriately touched her during the 2003 conference in Blackpool.
At the time, she was preparing for the campaign to represent the Hampshire constituency of Romsey during the 2005 election, during which Mr Johnson stood in Teignbridge, in Devon.
She told Sky: ‘I can remember a really prominent man smacking me on the backside about as hard as he could and going, ‘Oh, Romsey, you’ve got a lovely seat’.
‘Stanley Johnson did that to me ahead of the ’05 election, so it was Blackpool … 2003/4. I didn’t do anything and I feel ashamed by that … now I probably would.’
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer praised Ms Nokes’ ‘bravery’ for speaking out, and called for an investigation either by the Tories or the police.
‘The allegations are serious and they need to be fully investigated, I don’t think at this stage it’s for me to say what should happen as a result,’ Sir Keir said at a press conference on tackling sleaze in politics.
‘But it takes guts and bravery to come forward to make allegations like this. They now need to be fully investigated either by the Conservative Party or by the criminal authorities.’
Shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds earlier said the allegation needs to be treated ‘extremely seriously and sensitively’.
‘The Conservative Party clearly needs to investigate a serious allegation like that, that happened at their party conference,’ he told Times Radio.
Home Office minister Damian Hinds did not commit to an investigation during an appearance on the same radio station.
‘If there is an investigation to be had, if that is the appropriate course of action, then of course that will happen,’ he said.
The comments from Ms Nokes, who has represented Romsey and Southampton North since 2010, prompted a separate allegation from Ms Rea, which the journalist for the New Statesman magazine said happened at the Manchester party conference in 2019, when Boris Johnson was Tory leader.
Ms Rea wrote on Twitter: ‘Stanley Johnson also groped me at a party at Conservative conference in 2019.
‘I am grateful to Caroline Nokes for calling out something that none of us should have to put up with, not least from the Prime Minister’s father.’
Stanley Johnson lost the campaign to become an MP in 2005 but had served as a Conservative MEP between 1979 and 1984.
Mr Johnson, now 81, declined to comment to the PA news agency about both of the allegations.
But, regarding the initial accusation, he told Sky News: ‘I have no recollection of Caroline Nokes at all. But there you go … and no reply.’
On Tuesday Ms Nokes tweeted: ‘Just wanted to thank the sisterhood for the solidarity and support today. You know who you are and you’re amazing.’
Downing Street declined to say whether an investigation would be carried out, with the Prime Minister’s official spokesman saying: ‘I haven’t spoken to the PM about this, it wouldn’t be one for me.
‘I’m not going to be drawn into specific allegations against a private individual. Of course we would want anyone in any circumstance who feels they have been a victim of any kind of harassment to come forward and report them to the appropriate authorities.’