UK: Tatler Tory's Freemason cronies

One of Clarke’s fellow Phoenix Freemasons is lawyer and Conservative
councillor Andy Peterkin

The ‘Tatler Tory’ scandal took a new turn last night after it emerged that Mark Clarke and his cronies are Freemasons.

They are members of the Phoenix Lodge, based in Wandsworth, South London, where Clarke lives – and meet there to hatch political plots.

One of Clarke’s fellow Phoenix Freemasons is lawyer and Conservative councillor Andy Peterkin. Mr Peterkin formerly worked for Clifford Chance, the London law firm chosen by Tory chairman Lord Feldman to conduct an independent inquiry into the Clarke scandal, and now works for Farrar and Co, the Queen’s lawyers.

When the bullying claims against Clarke surfaced, Mr Peterkin leapt to his defence on Facebook saying: ‘Mark Clarke is one of my best mates. Feel free to unfriend me if that offends you.’ He has since deleted it.

Mr Peterkin told The Mail on Sunday. ‘I have given Mark a shoulder to cry on but I am not giving him legal or any other advice. I am sick and tired of seeing him kicked to death in public.’

Other Phoenix Freemasons include Clarke’s henchman Andre Walker. Walker helped Clarke bully Elliott Johnson, before the activist took his own life. He also tried to trap one of Clarke’s female Tory foes into being caught on camera snorting cocaine.

Ukip general secretary Matthew Richardson, another close friend of Clarke’s, is a former Worshipful Master of Phoenix Lodge.  (more...)

Tatler Tory's Freemason cronies: Mark Clarke goes to the same lodge as councillor who formerly worked for law firm chosen to conduct inquiry into bullying scandal