Yahoo News Tory Bullying: Father Blames Feldman Over Death
The father of Elliott Johnson has told Sky News the Tory chairman must "take responsibility" over the death of his activist son.
Ray Johnson said his 21-year-old son was "bullied and eventually died" during Lord Feldman's tenure, adding that the party chairman "has to take responsibility for it".
He said: "My son made his complaints during Lord Feldman's tenure.
"My son was bullied and eventually died during Lord Feldman's tenure. He has to take responsibility for it. Nobody else."
Mr Johnson accused the Conservatives of "trying to cover things up", and renewed his call for an independent inquiry into his son's death.
:: Would The Real Grant Shapps Please Stand Up?
"I'm sure they're trying to cover things up. The more they try to cover things up the more detail that comes out, and the scandal is getting bigger and bigger.
"If they'd actually come out clearly two months ago about my son's death, then a lot of what's come out in the last couple of months would probably still remain hidden."
He added: "We want a full independent inquiry, and when I say independent I mean independent - not to be conducted behind closed doors ... not to be conducted by Conservative party officials.
"It needs to be done by the police, by a judge ... and the results have to be published."
David Cameron is under pressure to sack Lord Feldman , a key ally of the Prime Minister, who helped deliver election success in May.
The Conservatives have outlined details of the investigation into the claims surrounding Elliott Johnson's death.
The party has disclosed that 40 witnesses are giving evidence to the inquiry about bullying in the Conservative party youth wing during the RoadTrip2015 election campaign.
Elliott Johnson was found dead on railway tracks on 15 September after making a complaint that he had been bullied by RoadTrip2015 leader Mark Clarke.
In a letter written in the days before his suspected suicide, Elliott Johnson named Mr Clarke - who has denied any wrong-doing.
Since his death it is reported that 25 activists have complained to Conservative Campaign Headquarters about Mr Clarke's behaviour.
On Saturday, the former party co-chair Grant Shapps resigned , saying the "buck should stop" with him.
