There’s been a lot more Tory scandals over the years!
2012
: Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell resigned after allegedly calling police officers “plebs” outside Downing Street, sparking a major political and public controversy.
Cash-for-access (Cruddas affair): Treasurer Peter Cruddas resigned when a sting revealed he offered access to the Prime Minister in exchange for donations of £250,000.
Phone-hacking fallout: The broader scandal involving the News of the World, the press, police, and politicians—including David Cameron’s communications with Rebekah Brooks—continued to roil Westminster.
2013–2014
Patrick Mercer lobbying scandal: Mercer resigned the Conservative whip in May 2013, caught on camera accepting money for lobbying. He later resigned his seat in April 2014 after a Standards Committee report recommended a six-month ban.
2015 election spending investigation: The Electoral Commission launched an investigation into Tory spending during the 2014 by-elections and the 2015 general election, citing potential underreporting of local campaign funds such as “battlebuses.”
2020–2021 (Pandemic era and beyond)
Dominic Cummings lockdown breach: The PM’s strategist broke COVID lockdown rules, leading to national outrage and damaging public trust.
lobbying (David Cameron): Cameron faced criticism for lobbying on behalf of Greensill Capital during the pandemic, though found not to have violated laws.
Matt Hancock scandal: Leaked footage showed Hancock breaching social distancing rules by embracing an aide. He resigned the next day.
Partygate: A series of gatherings at Downing Street during COVID lockdowns; Boris Johnson, Rishi Sunak, and others received fines, and Johnson was later found to have misled Parliament.
Pandemic cronyism: Revelations of Tory-linked firms receiving government contracts at inflated prices or via VIP channels raised major ethical concerns.
2021
Owen Paterson lobbying scandal: Found to have breached paid advocacy rules by lobbying for companies that paid him. A government attempt to block his suspension triggered public outrage; he eventually resigned.
2022
Neil Parish (Tractorgate): Parish resigned after admitting to watching pornography in Commons after supposedly misclicking on tractor images.
Chris Pincher scandal: Accused of groping two men; revelations that Johnson knew of earlier complaints intensified the crisis. The episode triggered mass resignations and ultimately led to Johnson’s resignation.
2023
Cash/corruption controversies (under Sunak):
Nadhim Zahawi tax row: Zahawi was fined £5 million over undeclared tax on YouGov shares; he was eventually sacked.
Bullying allegations: Gavin Williamson resigned over bullying claims; Dominic Raab faced multiple formal complaints.
2024
Betting scandal around election date: Police and party staff were investigated for placing bets on the 2024 general election date; Conservative figures including Tony Lee and Nick Mason were implicated.
Frank Hester comments: National press donor and largest-ever Tory donor was reported to have made deeply racist remarks, creating uproar.