HARWICH and North Essex MP Sir Bernard Jenkin has suggested political leaders promoting people with the “wrong attitudes and the wrong behaviours” gives permission to others to behave similarly.

His comments came after Cabinet minister Michael Ellis was heckled by opposition MPs in the House of Commons as he faced questions about Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s knowledge of concerns raised against Chris Pincher, the MP for Tamworth who last week quit as the Government’s deputy chief whip following claims he groped two men at a private members’ club.

Sir Bernard, chairman of the Liaison Committee, said: “There is periodically much discussion in this place and about this place about how we should address the culture of this place that seems to give permission for the wrong attitudes and the wrong behaviours.

“But how does it help if our own political leaders, in all political parties, finish up promoting people with the wrong attitudes and the wrong behaviours?

“Isn’t that exactly what gives permission for the wrong attitudes and the wrong behaviours to persist?”

Cabinet Office minister Michael Ellis said: “My right honourable friend would be right if he were working under the assumption that those making the appointment knew that the individual in question had the wrong behaviours and the wrong attitudes.”