LOC02:38
23:38 GMT
LONDON, Nov 29 (KUNA) -- Grant Shapps has resigned his post as British Minister of State at the Department for International Development over allegations of bullying, sexual abuse and intimidation.
In his letter of resignation to Prime Minister David Cameron, Shapps said the buck should stop with me, according to a statement by 10 Downing Street
He was referring to responsibility for the accusations that engulfed the Tories in the last few weeks following the suicide of Elliott Johnson, a 21-year youth activist, in last September.
Johnson was allegedly driven to suicide by blackmail before and after the May general elections when Shapps was co-chairman of the Conservative Party.
Shapps said the Party cannot find any record of written allegations of bullying, sexual abuse or blackmail.
Since the May elections, Shapps has been accused by some female Tories of sexual abuse and bullying. Critics also accused him of being patronizing people to working by reducing their hobbies to bingo and beer.
The Prime Minister accepted the resignation and appointed Nick Hurd as a replacement to Shapps, the statement noted.
Queen Elizabeth II "has been pleased to approve the appointment," it added. (end)
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