The parents of political activist Elliott Johnson have, on the first anniversary of their son’s death, accused the Conservative party of concealing the circumstances leading up to his suicide.
In a letter sent to the Tory chairman, Patrick McLoughlin, Johnson’s father, Ray, calls for the Conservatives to release in full the findings of a report on allegations of bullying within the party.
Although a summary has been issued, McLoughlin has refused to make public the complete findings of the inquiry, on the grounds of protecting witness anonymity. But Johnson’s family do not accept this and have accused the chairman of a “blanket suppression of key evidence”.
The demand comes as Ray and his wife Alison, Elliott’s mother, reflect on a turbulent and emotional year, and on how much they have missed their son.
Johnson, 21, was found dead on the railway tracks at Sandy station in Bedfordshire on 15 September 2015. He left three letters, one of which said Mark Clarke, a failed parliamentary candidate, had bullied him. Clarke has denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
In his letter to McLoughlin, seen by the Guardian, Ray writes: “You say you promised confidentiality to witnesses – we say of course protect those who asked for it from the public eye but release the remainder of the information, don’t hide behind the promise to impose a blanket suppression of key evidence.
“It should also be pointed out that not all witnesses requested anonymity and it is perfectly possible to redact personal details to ensure that the security of witnesses is protected. This attempted concealment can only heighten suspicion as to the motives of the Party, which appear to be driven more by the desire to protect itself, than to protect the identities of witnesses or ensure that justice is carried out.”
The summary of the report, which was produced by law firm Clifford Chance, identified 13 alleged victims of bullying by Clarke, the so-called Tatler Tory, over a 20-month period, including six accusations of “sexually inappropriate behaviour”.
A month before he killed himself, Johnson complained to Conservative campaign headquarters about an alleged altercation with Clarke in the Marquis of Granby pub in Westminster. In his letter to McLoughlin, Ray says a failure to accelerate his son’s complaint led to “the appalling consequence of the further intimidation of Elliott and other activists … ultimately resulting in our son tragically taking his own life”.
Johnson’s family have asked their son’s friends to light a candle and put a picture or message on his Facebook page to mark the anniversary of his death.
Speaking to the Guardian, Alison said: “It will be a year to the day on Thursday that we answered the door, late one evening, to two police officers, to hear the news that our son Elliott had killed himself.
“It was the news that no parent can prepare themselves for. It was absolutely devastating from the nucleus of the family, fanning out through the extended family like the rings of a tree.
“Some days it is really hard to continue on bravely for the sake of our two daughters, trying to hold everything together. They also have been very brave.”
Alison added: “I can’t tell how difficult it has been to let go of Elliott’s belongings, but I have started to put some of his things into a blanket box at the end of his bed, where he had stored some memorabilia, like his Conservative T-shirts, Scout uniform, etc.
“I still get the sense of his smell on his clothes – the smell a mother never forgets, from baby to man.
“This last month has been especially difficult. The thoughts of last summer, when we attended his graduation as proud parents, a nephew’s wedding in July, the unexpected loss of his job in August and a final family gathering at a niece’s wedding just three days before the tragic news. We are all family together, in happiness and sadness. I miss him so much.”
Ray said the family would visit his son’s grave on Thursday, as they regularly do.
“But this Thursday will be very upsetting and poignant, for Thursday, 15 September, will be a date that we will always remember with sadness,” he told the Guardian.
“These last 12 months have been extremely hard for our entire family, not least Elliott’s mother and his sisters. However, I have vowed to ensure that Elliott receives justice and am determined to exhaust all avenues to ensure that those responsible are brought to account.
“Elliott was a well-liked and talented young man who had only just graduated from Nottingham University to begin an exciting career in political journalism, when he found himself the victim of bullying and [an] intimidation campaign by people who, through spite and self-interest, thought that they would destroy his nascent career before it had started. Actions which can only be described as despicable and inhuman.”
Ray added: “I will always remember my son with pride as the clever, hardworking and loyal young man who followed his heart. I will always be able to recall his many accomplishments, but will never now know what he could really have achieved.
“I intend to ensure that Elliott receives the justice his memory deserves. Watch this space.”
At the inquest earlier this year into Johnson’s death, the senior coroner for Bedfordshire, Tom Osborne, recorded a verdict of suicide and formally acknowledged that Johnson believed he was being bullied in the weeks before his death.
The Clifford Chance inquiry found that senior Conservatives, including David Cameron’s spin doctor, Lynton Crosby, and former chairman, Lord Feldman, had raised concerns about Clarke’s conduct.
However, the law firm found that senior figures including Feldman, Crosby and former party co-chairman Grant Shapps were not aware of Clarke’s alleged bullying of youth activists between 1 January 2014 and 14 August 2015. The finding prompted accusations of a “whitewash” from Johnson’s family.
Clarke, who declined to be interviewed as part of the investigation, denied the allegations included in the report.
His solicitor told the law firm: “Clarke has cooperated and will continue to cooperate with the police, the coroner and any other statutory body charged with investigating any matters relating to the subject matter of Clifford Chance’s investigation on behalf of the Conservative party board.
“The police investigation into Elliott Johnson’s death and other enquiries are ongoing, and it is not appropriate to respond to allegations until the end of those processes. However, the allegations made against Mr Clarke in the Clifford Chance report are wholly untrue and unsubstantiated. Many are based on totally fabricated media reports. All these allegations are vehemently denied.”
