Ministers urged to suspend Tory MP in rape probe

LABOUR has said it is “shocking” that a Tory MP reportedly under investigation over rape allegations has not had the whip suspended.

According to reports, a Conservative MP has been arrested after a former parliamentary aide accused him of rape, sexual assault and coercive control.

The ex-Minister, who has not been named, is alleged to have assaulted a woman and forced her to have sex, the Sunday Times and Mail on Sunday said.

The abuse is alleged to have taken place during a relationship.

Shadow Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips criticised the Tories for failing to suspend the whip from the Tory MP in question, a move that would effectively eject him from the party.

The Labour MP said: “It is very difficult to comment on the case itself, because it is quite rightly in front of the criminal justice system. But what I would say in this matter, is in any organisation – especially one like Members of Parliament who every day work with vulnerable people, young activists, members of staff – in any other organisation, were this police investigation to be going on, somebody would be suspended while the investigation was taking place.”

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said he did not know the name of the MP involved, but added that he was “confident” the party was taking the matter seriously.

Asked whether he personally wanted to see the Tory whip removed from the MP under police investigation, Mr Jenrick said: “We need to take allegations of this nature very seriously and I’m confident that the party is, and will do.”

The Metropolitan Police said it received allegations on Friday of sexual offences and assault between July last year and January this year. A man was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of rape and was taken into custody at an east London police station, the force added. He has been released on bail to a date in mid-August.

A Conservative Party spokesman said yesterday: “We take all allegations of this nature extremely seriously.

“As this matter is now in the hands of the police it would be inappropriate to comment further.”