Daniel Korski grope accuser claims more women have come forward with 'interesting stories'

Daisy Goodwin has claimed more women have come forward with “interesting stories” about the Conservative mayoral candidate Daniel Korski, after she accused him of groping her in Downing Street a decade ago.

Ms Goodwin told Radio 4’s Today programme she felt “entirely justified” after writing in The Times and Daily Mail to identify the former special adviser.

Her comments come the day after Mr Korski appeared on TalkTV to strenuously deny that he groped Ms Goodwin, as he pledged to stay in the race for City Hall.

Told that Mr Korski had said the allegation against him was “categorically untrue”, Ms Goodwin said: “Well, that is what tends to happen in these situations. I think people have to decide who they choose to believe.

“There is no reason why I would come forward other than the fact that this happened to me 10 years ago.

“I was shocked by it; I can’t say that I am a victim, but I was shocked by it. And since I wrote my piece I have been contacted by other women with some very interesting stories, which clearly I can’t talk about for legal reasons, but I feel entirely justified in having written the piece and naming him.”

Ms Goodwin also confirmed she had been in contact with the Cabinet Office to make a formal complaint against Mr Korski.

Asked if she had tried to make an official complaint, Ms Goodwin told the BBC: “Yes. I realise that there are a number of comments yesterday from the Cabinet Office saying that no one had made a formal complaint so they couldn’t investigate it.

“So I decided I would make a formal complaint. I rang the switchboard for No 10 and nobody wanted to put me through to anyone and finally I got through to someone and they said, ‘oh, we can’t take messages’, so I thought, ‘well, that shows it is quite difficult to make a complaint’.”

‘Serious and concerning allegation’

Claire Coutinho, the children and families minister, said she had paused her support for Mr Korski and said that any complaint should be investigated “swiftly”.

“At the same time, this is an allegation. He’s roundly denied it,” she told Sky News.

“If there is a complaint in the system, it needs to be followed up swiftly so we can find the facts and see what’s happened, but I do think it’s a very serious and concerning allegation.”

The Conservative Party said on Tuesday that it was not investigating the claim, and Downing Street said No 10 was a safe environment for women.

Downing Street on Tuesday refused to be drawn on the individual case or whether there would be a Cabinet Office investigation into Mr Korski, who at the time of the allegation was a special adviser to then prime minister David Cameron.

A Tory spokesman said: “The Conservative Party has an established code of conduct and formal processes where complaints can be made in confidence.

“The party considers all complaints made under the code of conduct but does not conduct investigations where the party would not be considered to have primary jurisdiction over another authority.”

A spokesman for Mr Korski said: “In the strongest possible terms, Dan categorically denies any allegation of inappropriate behaviour whatsoever. He welcomes any investigation and will cooperate fully.”