PM defends decision not to suspend MP accused of rape

BORIS JOHNSON has defended the decision not to suspend a senior Tory MP who was arrested on suspicion of rape.

The Prime Minister insisted yesterday that the allegation is being taken “extremely seriously” after the Conservatives defied calls to remove the whip from the former Minister.

Mr Johnson, in his first comments about the arrest, said a decision will be made when the police investigation is concluded.

“I think it’s very, very important that we take all these cases extremely seriously and we will continue to do so,” he told reporters during a visit to Warrington.

“I think we’ve got to wait for the police to decide whether they want to make charges and take a decision on that basis.”

Last Friday, Scotland Yard received allegations of sexual offences and assault relating to four incidents at addresses in London, including in Westminster.

The unnamed MP was arrested the following day on suspicion of raping the woman and was taken into custody before being bailed until mid-August.

Labour’s Shadow Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips was among those who criticised the Tories for not suspending the whip from the MP.

She told Times Radio it sent a “terrible message” that powerful figures can secure “protection” with their Westminster status.

“While pending a police investigation for a sexual crime, I think it is only right that the whip is withdrawn,” she said.

It comes after a group of women’s charities and unions are calling on Parliament to step in and suspend the MP In a joint statement, the groups said it showed “party politics was still interfering in justice and fairness”.

A spokesman from the House of Commons said they could not comment on specific cases, but said “sexual harassment has no place” in Parliament, adding: “We take the safety of our staff seriously and are ensuring that any necessary measures are taken in respect of our employees.”

The investigation was launched days after former Tory MP Charlie Elphicke was convicted at Southwark Crown Court in a separate case of sexually assaulting two women.

He had the whip removed in November 2017 when the allegations first surfaced, but it was controversially restored before a confidence vote in then Prime Minister Theresa May’s leadership the following year. The party suspended him again on the day Elphicke was formally charged.