1ST LEAD Key British minister sacked in wake of porn scandal By dpa correspondents

London (dpa) - A senior British cabinet minister and ally of Prime Minister Theresa May was forced to resign on Wednesday after an investigation concluded that he breached the ministerial code.First Secretary of State Damian Green admitted he made "misleading" statements about allegations that pornography was found on his parliamentary computer in 2008."From the outset I have been clear that I did not download or view pornography on my parliamentary computers," Green said in a letter to May.But the prime minister called for his resignation, saying that his conduct "falls short of the seven principles of public life and is a breach of the ministerial code."Green has faced calls to step down since last month as allegations of inappropriate behaviour of a sexual nature were being investigated.The inquiry was launched into the 61-year-old‘s conduct after journalist and Conservative Party activist Kate Maltby accused the politician of touching her knee "fleetingly" at a London pub in 2015 and then sending her a "suggestive" text message.Green‘s departure adds to May‘s headaches. Two other ministers have also resigned in recent months.In early November, Defence Minister Michael Fallon resigned from parliament after an accusation of misconduct was made against him by a journalist.A week later, International Development Secretary Priti Patel stepped down after it emerged that she had held undisclosed meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other high-level officials while on holiday in Israel in August.The resignations further complicate governing for May, who was left weakened by a snap election she called in June, in which she lost the Conservatives‘ parliamentary majority.May leads a minority Conservative government propped up by 10 lawmakers from Northern Ireland‘s Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) on key votes in the British parliament.