Tory organiser threatened to 'squash' activist, inquest hears
Tory organiser threatened to 'squash' activist, inquest hears
A Conservative Party campaign chief threatened to "squash" like an ant a young activist who is believed to have killed himself just weeks later, an inquest has heard. Elliott Johnson, 21, claimed Mark Clarke had "gone ballistic" during a pub row over the use of a photograph on a website and threatened to "destroy" his career. During the confrontation last August, Mr Clarke, who led the Road Trip 2015 campaign for young activists in which Mr Elliott was involved, had allegedly threatened to sue him for breach of copyright. Just a few weeks after complaining of bullying within the party, Mr Johnson was found dead on railway tracks in Sandy, Bedfordshire, on 15 September.
I squash them like ants when they are small and young - this is what I'm going to do to you.
Mr Johnson had been made redundant by pressure group Conservative Way Forward (CWF) after making the allegation, and in a note left for his parents, Alison and Ray, he accused Mr Clarke of bullying. In the letter, he wrote: "Overall, I failed in life in spite of your help, for which I am very thankful." Another letter found in his flat in Tooting, south London, after he died was addressed to "bullies and betrayers". The inquest heard a complaints investigator from Conservative central headquarters (CCHQ) had been looking into other allegations against Mr Clarke. Mr Clarke has denied any wrongdoing. A verdict of suicide was recorded.
