Whose Next For the Chop?

Just as we called it at the ABC. The Times reckons No. 10 is “particularly worried” Damian Green may have to go, despite his furious denials of any misbehavior. The Mail is among several papers that say Green has offered to release text messages he says will exonerate him after being accused of inappropriate behavior by journalist Kate Maltby. The paper also reproduces Maltby’s Times op-ed in full — followed by two pages of aggressive comment aimed in her direction. A scathing leader column describes the harassment furor as “a displacement activity” at a time Westminster should be focused on Brexit.

Downfall: ITV’s Robert Peston published a Facebook post fleshing out the same theme, saying Fallon “was aware his behavior with women over many years would be regarded as inappropriate if disclosed.” Peston adds: “According to one of his friends, he found the stress of waiting for someone to make a complaint debilitating. And therefore — after a conversation with the prime minister this afternoon — he has quit.” The Sun leads its spread on “allies” of Fallon who blame booze for making him a “Jekyll and Hyde” character. Deputy Political Editor Steve Hawkes says rumors of inappropriate behavior “have circulated in Whitehall for years.” In an insightful profile, the Times’ Defense Editor Deborah Haynes says Fallon was “charming when he wanted to be” and adds: “He could be social on an evening out, though some would comment on the volume of wine he was able to consume, at times in the presence of journalists.”

Panic stations: May pulled out of a planned appearance at last night’s Spectator Awards bash as her government suffered its most severe blow since the general election. Fallon was a trusted ally and his departure comes with the PM’s de facto deputy Damian Green also under fire — though he vehemently denies any wrongdoing. The fear in Downing Street is simple — that Fallon’s departure will not be the last. International Trade Minister Mark Garnier remains under investigation, and the truth is No. 10 simply has no idea when the next allegation may come.

Forced out? The BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, on the News at Ten last night: “It’s been suggested to me that fresh concerns about Michael Fallon were put to No. 10 through the course of today — and almost as soon as that happened Theresa May took a view that he would have to go.” The Mail’s Jason Groves has a similar line, writing May “pulled the plug” on Fallon after a warning from her Chief Whip Gavin Williamson that there could be more accusations to come. Groves quotes a “friend of Fallon” saying: “Has there been flirtation that has been inappropriate? Yes, he will concede that.”

The trade union representing MPs’ staff will hold an emergency meeting in the Commons today to discuss allegations of harassment at Westminster, the Birmingham Mail’s Jon Walker reports. He says the parliamentary branch of Unite — which represents 600 members including researchers and political advisers — will hold the meeting in a Commons committee room.

House-clearing: One Tory power-player who did turn up at the Speccie Awards last night was Scottish leader Ruth Davidson — and she eschewed the usual jokes to call for big changes in Westminster. “The tone of politics has changed markedly in the past few days, and I believe will continue in that vein for some time to come,” Davidson said. “Just because we have a woman in No. 10 … doesn’t mean sexism and misogyny are somehow resigned to the dustbin of history when it comes to politics. The house-clearing that’s going to happen needs to happen.”