Damian Green to receive £17,000 pay-off after being sacked for 'lying' about pornography on his computer

Former First Secretary of State denies downloading explicit material onto Commons computer

Tom Embury-Dennis
Friday 22 December 2017 14:23 GMT
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Damian Green sacked as First Secretary of State amid computer porn allegations

Damian Green is set to receive a £17,000 pay-off after he was sacked as first secretary of state for "lying" about the presence of pornographic images on his House of Commons computer.

An investigation into the 61-year-old exposed he had known for years that explicit material had been discovered on his computer by police in 2008, a fact at odds with his public statements.

It also found accusations against Mr Green of sexual misconduct from Conservative activist Kate Maltby were “plausible”, though unprovable.

In a letter, Theresa May effectively sacked the de facto deputy leader, saying she was “extremely sad” she needed to ask him to resign. Mr Green stepped down, but denies he downloaded the pornography and disputes Ms Maltby’s recollection of events.

The Cabinet Office directed The Independent to the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 when asked if Mr Green had been offered the money.

The act states all ministers who lose their job, and are not given a new post in the Cabinet within three weeks, receive three months’ salary as a severance payment.

Under a voluntary pay cap scheme, ministers received an annual salary of £67,505. A quarter of that comes to £16,876.

Sir Michael Fallon, who resigned as defence minister amid allegations of inappropriate behaviour, did not receive any severance pay because it only applies to ministers under 65, a Cabinet Office spokesperson said. Mr Green is 61.

The inquiry against Mr Green was triggered after Ms Maltby, 30 years younger than the MP, claimed he “fleetingly” touched her knee during a meeting in a pub in 2015, and a year later sent her a “suggestive” text message after she was pictured wearing a corset in a newspaper.

The investigation later spread to claims pornography was found on his computer in 2008 and whether he had been honest in his recent statements.

The Independent has contacted Mr Green for comment.

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