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Conservative minister Mark Garnier 'asked his assistant to buy sex toys'

International Trade Minister Mark Garnier is the latest MP to be drawn into the Westminster sex scandal after reportedly admitting asking his secretary to buy sex toys for him and calling her “sugar tits”.

Mr Garnier’s former secretary Caroline Edmondson told The Mail on Sunday he had given her money to buy two sex toys on one occasion and on another in a bar told her: “You are going nowhere, sugar tits”.

The newspaper reported that Mr Garnier had admitted the claims but said they were “high jinks” and did not constitute sexual harassment.

He reportedly said the “sugar tits” comment was part of an “amusing conversation” about TV comedy Gavin and Stacey.

The reports come amid speculation at Westminster that at least four MPs have been caught up in various allegations of sexual misconduct.

<em>‘Serious action’ – Downing Street said Theresa May would take “serious action” against any minister found to have acted inappropriately (Picture: AP)</em>
‘Serious action’ – Downing Street said Theresa May would take “serious action” against any minister found to have acted inappropriately (Picture: AP)

Downing Street said such behaviour was “completely unacceptable” and said on Friday that Theresa May would take “serious action” against any minister found to have acted inappropriately, while Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn warned of a “warped and degrading culture” where abuse of women had gone unchallenged for too long.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove was forced to apologise on Saturday after he joked that being interviewed by BBC presenter John Humphrys to “going into Harvey Weinstein’s bedroom”.

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Conservative cabinet minister Stephen Crabb was also caught up in the scandal after reportedly admitting sending “explicit” messages to a 19-year-old woman he interviewed for a job in 2013 when he was a Welsh minister.

The married MP was quoted by the Mail as saying he had been “foolish” but that there had been no sexual contact.

“I accept any kind of sexual chatter like this is totally wrong and I am sorry for my actions,” he was quoted as saying.

(Top picture: Getty)