Alun Cairns resigns: Welsh secretary steps down amid aide's rape trial 'sabotage' row

Jacob Jarvis6 November 2019
WEST END FINAL

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Alun Cairns has resigned as Welsh secretary after he was accused of "brazenly lying" about his knowledge of an allegation that a Tory candidate had sabotaged a rape trial.

Mr Cairns said due to the "very sensitive matter" and "in light of continued speculation" he wished to stand down.

In a letter to the PM he said: "You will be aware of allegations relating to the actions of a Party employee and candidate for the Welsh Assembly elections in the Vale of Glamorgan.

"This is a very sensitive matter, and in light of continued speculation, I write to tender my resignation as Secretary of State for Wales.

"I will co-operate in full with the investigation under the Ministerial Code which will now take place and I am confident I will be cleared of any breach or wrong doing."

Alun Cairns has denied any wrongdoing
PA

Reports suggest that Mr Cairns will still stand to become an MP in the upcoming election, though whether he will do so or not has not been confirmed.

It comes after the shadow secretary of state for Wales, Christina Rees, accused Mr Cairns of "brazenly lying" about his knowledge of an allegation that a Conservative candidate had sabotaged a rape trial, and called on him to resign.

Mr Cairns claims he had been unaware of former staff member Ross England's role in the collapsed trial until after the story broke last week.

BBC Wales said it had obtained a leaked email sent to Mr Cairns which showed he had been made aware of the allegations as early as August last year.

Mr Cairns said it had been"an honour" to serve in the Government.

In a letter accepting the resignation, Mr Johnson said: "Thank you for your letter resigning as Secretary of State of Wales. I am pleased to hear that you will co-operate fully with the Cabinet Office during this process."

Ms Rees said Mr Cairns stepping down "is far from the end of the matter, and is a shoddy halfway house that will fool nobody".

She added: "He has still not explained his behaviour and still not addressed the grave issues raised by the leaked emails yesterday.

"Worse still, neither he nor any senior Welsh Tory have apologised to one person who most deserves it - the victim herself.

"He should do the right thing - apologise, and step down as a candidate."

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