Preacher Man

Here's a shocking article from the Mail newspaper which demonstrates that the Reverend Flowers was not just a fool, but a very well connected fool - who flaunted his drug-fuelled lifestyle courtesy of a generous salary from the Co-op Bank worth £155,000 a year.

Now the man's behaviour was completely at odds with the values he espoused on behalf of the Labour Party, Methodist Church and Co-op Bank - yet no one stood up and spoke out or challenged his what he was doing, which is really quite incredible.

The fact is that lot of people have a great deal of explaining to do - before this story will have run its course.  

Disgraced Co-op banker, Rev Paul Flowers, texted teenage rent boy to invite him to Labour peer's party... as he asked about crystal meth 

Bank chief sent a string of messages to the teenager

In the same exchange he asks for drugs and invites the rent boy to Baroness Thornton's London party

The 63-year-old is advised by teen to avoid taking 'crystal'

By ROSS SLATER and MARTIN BECKFORD

Disgraced Co-op bank chief Reverend Paul Flowers texted a teenage rent boy to invite him to a Labour peer's London party

Paul Flowers invited a teenage rent boy to accompany him to the summer party of Labour peer Baroness Thornton and asked him about the drug crystal meth.

The party, which featured several leading lights from the London Labour scene, was held in the garden of her Primrose Hill home in July.

The escort, now 20, has told The Mail on Sunday how the event was to be at the end of a week he spent with the Methodist minister at Flowers’ late mother’s house in Hampshire.

Seeking to clarify the arrangements, the man texted Flowers on July 11 to ask how much he would be paid.

Flowers replies: ‘How about 750 to help me for the week – and we then add more for the times when we sleep together?’

Soon after, he reveals further plans for the week: ‘Have a party in London on the following Sunday afternoon @ the home of a friend from the Lords . . . if I want to come!!!’

Within the same minute he adds: ‘U could be in for an interesting time . . . !!’ The escort replies: ‘Lol. Definately [sic] sounds like it,’ before Flowers clears up the mystery of the party host by adding: ‘Baroness Thornton – google her!’

He describes her as Labour’s equalities spokesperson in the Lords who has been ‘leading all the stuff on gay marriages’.

He adds that the Baroness is ‘a v good mate’.

The escort then spends much of the next hour fending off further texts from Flowers who tells him that coke is not strong enough and asks if he should try crystal meth. ‘I was totally shocked,’ said the young man.

‘To me crystal meth is a different level. I told him to lay off the coke for a bit.’

The 63-year-old Reverend sent a string of text messages to the teenager in which he invited him to a Labour peer's London party

He added: ‘The trip was supposed to be to help clear his mother’s house, although not a lot of that was done, with the party at the Baroness’s house on the final Sunday – July 21.

‘Unfortunately, I got food poisoning on the Friday night so I didn’t go with him.

‘He drove up and came back that night. He didn’t say much about the party, just that it had been good and that the Baroness was a dear friend.’ Baroness Thornton, 61, who was brought up in Bradford and has served as a junior health minister, was elevated to the House of Lords in 1998.

A former adviser to the Co-op, she tweeted after the party: ‘Thanks to all who joined me and family for afternoon party.’


'A good mate': Labour peer Baroness Thornton (right) with the model Jerry Hall (left) and actress Adjoa Andoh (centre)

There is no suggestion that anyone at the party, other than Flowers, would have been considering taking drugs or would be aware of Flowers’ drug use.

Other guests who enjoyed cake, strawberries and drinks in the summer sunshine included former deputy mayor of London Nicky Gavron and former Labour housing Minister John Healey.

Last week, in response to the furore surrounding Flowers, the Baroness retweeted a comment by Louise Baldock, the Labour candidate for Stockton South: ‘One man’s failure does not and should not diminish Co-op movement.’

Baroness Thornton said last night: ‘It is true that Paul Flowers attended [my summer party] amongst 80 or so neighbours and friends.

‘I had no knowledge of his plans either before or after the event. There is really nothing further to be said.’