Female TV producer claims a Government official groped her while she visited 10 Downing Street
A female television producer has claimed she was groped inside 10 Downing Street by a Government official.
Daisy Goodwin, the creator of hit ITV series Victoria, alleged that the man put his hand on her breast during a meeting to discuss a proposed television programme.
Her story is the latest in a series of allegations of unwanted sexual advances at Westminster, with First Secretary of State Damian Green and international trade minister Mark Garnier facing inquiries over claims of inappropriate conduct.
Ms Goodwin told the Radio Times that she dealt with the situation by humiliating the official verbally, but did not report the incident, which took place during David Cameron’s time in office between 2010 and 2016.
She said she was cross at the time, but was not traumatised. But she told the magazine she was now concerned that the man involved may have “tried it on” with someone less able to cope with the situation.
Ms Goodwin said the official, who was a few years younger than her, showed her into an office at Number 10 which was dominated by a portrait of Margaret Thatcher.
When they sat down side by side, she was surprised when the official put his feet on her chair, and said that her sunglasses “made me look like a Bond Girl”, she said.
Ms Goodwin said she tried to divert the conversation back to the subject of their meeting.
Most popular on Yahoo News UK
Major search fails to discover the identity of man found dead in Kent field next to a suitcase and wedding catalogue
‘I’m disgusted with myself’: Man who left angry note on ambulance apologises after neighbour dies
Shocking moment driver abuses paramedic for blocking the street with her ambulance
Australian man dies after falling into wood chipper while clearing trees from a neighbour’s drive
Man who shared image of Muslim ‘ignoring Westminster terror victims’ was Russian troll
But she added: “At the end of the meeting we both stood up and the official, to my astonishment, put his hand on my breast.
“I looked at the hand and then in my best Lady Bracknell voice said: `Are you actually touching my breast?’ He dropped his hand and laughed nervously.”
Ms Goodwin said she left Downing Street in a state of “high dudgeon”, but that it did not occur to her to report the incident.
“I wasn’t traumatised, I was cross, but by the next day it had become an anecdote, The Day I Was Groped In Number 10,” she said.
But she added: “Now, in the light of all the really shocking stories that have come out about abusive behaviour by men in power from Hollywood to Westminster, I wonder if my Keep Calm and Carry on philosophy, inherited from my parents, was correct? The answer is, I am not sure.
“I think humiliating the official was probably the appropriate punishment, but suppose he tried it on with someone less able to defend themselves?”
A 10 Downing Street spokesperson said: “Allegations such as this are taken very seriously. The Cabinet Office would look into any formal complaint, should one be made.”