Conservative mayoral hopeful Daniel Korski accused by TV producer Daisy Goodwin of groping her breast

One of the three remaining Conservative mayoral hopefuls in London has been accused of groping a novelist and TV producer 10 years ago.

Daisy Goodwin, the creator of the TV show Victoria, told The Times Daniel Korski grabbed her breast while he worked as a special adviser to David Cameron.

A spokesperson for Mr Korski told LondonWorld he denies the accusation “in the strongest possible terms”.

Ms Goodwin writes in The Times that she met Mr Korski to discuss a new TV show.

She described him as being “awkwardly flirtatious”, and that he leant back in his chair “so that I could get a clear view of his crotch”.

Ms Goodwin wrote that Mr Korski then touched her breast, before he “sprang away from me and I left” when she asked: “Are you really touching my breast?”

Having initially seen his behaviour as “bizarre”, Ms Goodwin said when the MeToo movement “swept the world” in 2017, she “began to understand that ignoring this sort of behaviour was actually enabling men to carry on with this kind of unsavoury treatment of women”.

That year, she wrote a piece in the Radio Times on the alleged incident, though she did not name Mr Korski. She said that on seeing him in the race to be the Tory candidate for mayor of London, she changed her mind.

In a statement on his Twitter account, Mr Korski writes: “I want to take a moment to address the recent allegation that has been levelled against me. I Understand that this news may have caused concern, and I want to assure you I categorically deny any wrong-doing.

“Politics can be a rough and challenging business. Unfortunately, in the midst of this demanding environment, this baseless allegation from the past has resurfaced.

“It is disheartening to find myself connected to this allegation after so many years, but I want to unequivocally state that I categorically deny any claim of inappropriate behaviour. I denied it when it was alluded to seven years ago and I do so now.

“To be clear - nothing was raised at the time, nothing was raised with me seven years ago and even now, I’m not aware of any official complaint.

“I know that simply denying such allegations may not be enough to alleviate the concerns and doubts that may arise in your minds. I firmly believe in the importance of empathy, respect, and the well-being of every individual within society.

“I am - and have always been - committed to fostering an environment where everybody feels valued, heard and supported. As a father I am especially committed to making sure everyone feels safe on the streets of London.

To those who have been affected by any form of misconduct or harassment, let me assure you that I stand firmly against such behaviour. I am committed to fostering an environment where everyone feels valued, heard and supported.”

Mr Korski was reportedly at a Conservative hustings event at the time the article went live, on Monday evening (June 26), though left early once he had been informed of the piece.

Mr Korski has joined ranks with the other two remaining Conservative mayoral hopefuls, Susan Hall and Moz Hossain, in saying he will remove the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion if elected.

At the party’s first hustings earlier this month, he said he would focus on community-led policing to bring down crime, and that he would look to ramp up housing in the capital, especially in inner and central London.

London Conservative members are due to vote for their preferred candidate, with the winner to be announced on July 19. The London mayoral election is due to be held in May 2024.