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The Report: Young, Tory and Bullied

Young, Tory and Bullied

10/12/2015

BBC Radio 4 - The Report, Young, Tory and Bullied

Investigating bullying allegations in the conservative youth movement. John Manel reports.

Investigating the bullying and harassment allegations that have rocked the Conservative Party. John Manel reports.

In September, Elliot Johnson, a 21 year old member of the youth wing of the Conservative Party took his own life. He left behind a note saying that he'd been bullied by a 38 year-old Tory activist called Mark Clarke. 

Since then there have been almost daily reports of allegations of bullying, harassment and intimidation at the hands of Mr Clarke, all of which he denies. Accusations that a toxic environment had developed in the Conservative youth wing - Conservative Future - have also emerged. 

The Conservative Party is currently investigating what went wrong, but the ensuing scandal has already forced the ministerial resignation of former party chairman Grant Schapps. More may well follow.

In this edition of The Report Jon Manel investigates what's become the murky, often nasty world of some young Conservatives. He explores the culture of two organisations thrown into the spotlight by this story - Conservative Future and the Young Britons' Foundation - and, in a rare media appearance, speaks to YBF's founder Donal Blaney.


Producer: Hannah Barnes
Researcher: Kirsteen Knight.

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