THE co-founder of a campaign to get more Tory women elected to Parliament has spoken of her surprise over revelations of one of the group's leading supporters.

Disgraced Braintree MP Brooks Newmark resigned from his ministerial role after it was revealed he sent explicit pictures of himself to an undercover reporter believing it was a young, attractive, female party activist.

Mr Newmark had been a supporter of the lobby group Women2Win since its inception nine years ago and was formerly co-chairman.

Baroness Jenkin of Kennington, who is co-founder and co-chair of the group, described him as reliable and said: "Some men have stepped up to the plate and made themselves available to mentor, coach, encourage and support women through the process of getting on the list and getting selected as candidates.

"No male MP has done more to support women candidates than Brooks Newmark."

She added: "I'm not excusing him Newmark for his behaviour but men under pressure of a certain age are vulnerable to entrapment of this kind.

"Brooks would be the first to say he let his testosterone get the better of him.

"Why do so many men in public life put themselves in risky situations? There's a PhD in that somewhere."

 

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Baroness Jenkin, who is married to Harwich and North Essex MP Bernard Jenkin, said she spoke to Mr Newmark after the revelations broke and he said he was sorry for the people he had hurt through his actions.

But she added she did not believe Women2Win had been damaged by his behaviour.

Speaking from the Conservative party conference in Birmingham, she said: "He stood down as co-chair when he became a minister.

"We have lots of male MPs who are supportive of our campaign.

"There is no evidence to suggest he has damaged Women2Win and at our reception on Sunday evening, people were fighting to get in."