Sex case Tory MP faces suspension
An MP who made repeated unwanted sexual advances to a member of staff faces a six-week suspension from the Commons.
Robrobertswasstripped of the Tory whip after a complaints panel found he abused his position of authority and broke Parliament's sexual misconduct policy.
The disgraced MP apologised and said the "breach of trust" was "completely improper and should not have happened".
The Independent Expert Panel (IEP) found that Mr Roberts made repeated and unwanted advances towards the man, although the MP insisted his actions were "romantic" rather than sexual.
The suspension will only be imposed if it is approved by MPS and a loophole means Mr Roberts may escape the prospect of his constituents forcing a byelection despite the serious punishment.
Sir Stephen Irwin, chairman of the IEP, said: "The misconduct demonstrated here was significant.
"It is evident that Mr Roberts was in a very powerful position as an employer in relation to the reporter. Our conclusion is that the determination of six weeks' suspension from the House was proper and proportionate."
Despite the prospect of a six-week suspension from Westminster, the process for a petition to force a by-election under the Recall of MPS Act 2015 is not triggered by a punishment imposed on the recommendation of the IEP, which did not exist at the time the law was passed.
For a recall to be initiated, the sanction must be imposed on the recommendation of the Committee on Standards or a similar Commons committee.