Expel rape accused, Tories told
THE Tories are under pressure to expel an MP accused of rape from the party amid fears he could be a risk to constituents.
Scotland Yard said yesterday the politician in his 50s had been released on bail pending further inquiries.
He had also been detained on suspicion of sexual assault, indecent assault, abuse of a position of trust and misconduct in public office spanning a seven-year period.
One member of the suspect’s local constituency party told the Mirror: “I understand the difficulties involved with identifying him but his constituents have a right to know.”
Tory chief whip Chris Heaton-Harris
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urged the MP to stay away from the Commons but has not suspended the whip, meaning he remains a party member.
But kicking him out would mean in all likelihood the alleged rapist’s identity – already an open secret at Westminster – would be revealed.
A spokesman for Labour leader Keir Starmer said: “It’s a matter for the Conservative Party what they do, but our view is that given the nature of the allegations then the whip should be suspended and obviously at that point it would become public.”
No10 said Boris Johnson
was first informed of the allegations on Tuesday and was shocked to learn a Tory MP was under police investigation for such serious offences.
The PM’s press secretary added: “If an MP were to be charged by the police... they would lose the whip.”
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the latest allegations showed that the culture of the House of Commons “needs to change further”.
But she said Parliament’s working environment should not provide an “excuse for people to commit appalling crimes”.