london british defense minister michael fallon quit wednesday first resignation grow sexual harassment scandal prompt call wholesale change locker room culture parliament members prime minister theresa may conservative party say first high-profile resignation scandal show time reform 800-year-old parliament power concentrate lawmakers hand wield often unchecked junior aid loss fallon describe conservative source political rottweiler leave may hole cabinet already odds everything britain departure european union government austerity agenda weaken lose party majority june election may want move swiftly appoint replacement little disruption possible letter resignation may fallon apologize early week repeatedly touch radio presenter knee 2002 say many allegations lawmakers include previous conduct many false accept past fall high standards require arm force honor represent say offer detail nature allegations reflect position therefore resign defense secretary may reply letter say appreciate characteristically serious manner fallon consider position particular example wish set servicemen women others prime minister expect announce new defense minister thursday unlikely launch major reshuffle cabinet time try push forward brexit talk dependent support small northern irish party majority parliament may keen try limit fallout scandal prompt allegations sexual abuse misconduct lawmakers across parliament sexual abuse allegations hollywood producer harvey weinstein prompt hundreds thousands women men share stories improper behavior britain parliament bastion tradition exception ruth davidson leader conservatives scotland say time break culture politics powerful people use position power demand things others dam break male-dominated professions boys-own locker room culture prevail bite laugh get stop tell bbc allegations sexual abuse range charge rape activist opposition labour party senior party member unconfirmed detail serial sex pests list reportedly draft aid researchers parliament monday may sit beside leader house commons andrea leadsom set government plan tackle sexual harassment include measure enforce code conduct set independent grievance procedure may order investigations report one minister ask female secretary buy sex toy allegation deputy damian green make inappropriate sexual advance young woman something deny prime minister long champion career female lawmakers say wednesday action would take allegations evidence sexual misconduct clear take action allegations see evidence misconduct may tell lawmakers britain 's defense minister resign grow harassment scandal