Senior Tory MP arrested over rape allegation

A FORMER minister was arrested yesterday at his home after a woman accused him of rape and sexual assault.

The senior Conservative MP, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was taken into custody in the morning shortly before the Metropolitan Police announced it had launched an investigation. The man, in his 50s, remained in custody at a police station in East London last night.

A Metropolitan Police Service statement said officers received allegations relating to “four separate incidents involving allegations of sexual offences and assault”. The complaints were lodged on Friday.

While Scotland Yard did not name the man, they said the alleged offences took place in Westminster, Lambeth and Hackney in London between July 2019 and January 2020.

A Scotland Yard statement said: “On Friday, 31 July, the Metropolitan Police Service received allegations relating to four separate incidents involving allegations of sexual offences and assault.

“These offences are alleged to have occurred at addresses in Westminster, Lambeth and Hackney between July 2019 and January 2020. The Met has launched an investigation into the allegations. A man in his 50s was arrested on Saturday, 1 August on suspicion of rape and is currently in custody in an east London police station.”

The arrest came just days after Charlie Elphicke, a former Conservative whip, was convicted of sexual assault.

The married father of two was found guilty of three charges of sexual assault, one of which involved him forcing himself on a woman at his home in Belgravia, London, during which he shouted: “I’m a naughty Tory.”

The Conservative Party has not suspended the unnamed MP and said: “As this matter is now in the hands of the police, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

A Met spokesman last night confirmed that the MP has been released on bail to a date in mid-August.