Commons sex scandal may spark a string of by-elections

SEX pest MPs should be kicked out of Parliament, Britain’s Home Secretary said yesterday.

Amber Rudd made her comments despite fears by-elections could rob the Tory government of its majority.

She said a review of the rules for dealing with sexual harassment should consider removing guilty MPs from Parliament.

British prime minister Theresa May was yesterday reported to have put the Tory Party on a ‘state of readiness’ to fight by-elections. Labour MP John Mann said the scandal engulfing Westminster would lead to ‘at least 12 by-elections’.

Even with the support of the DUP, Mrs May has a House of Commons majority of just 13, which would be wiped out if she lost seven seats.

One minister last night warned the Tories were in ‘no fit state to present ourselves to the electorate’, and claimed the only consolation was ‘neither are Labour’.

Rules to allow UK MPs to be kicked out between elections would require a change in the law.

Mrs May will try to get on the front foot today with a pledge to ‘act decisively’. Speaking at the Confederation of British Industry, she will acknowledge the scandal has caused ‘significant public unease’.

Last night Ms Rudd said the scandal should lead to a ‘clearing out [of] Westminster’, adding: ‘I think Westminster, including the government, will be better for it.’

Meanwhile, Tory MPs rounded on the whips’ office over its handling of the scandal. Former minister Anna Soubry said that, in some instances, there had been ‘covering up, which is totally unacceptable’.

A Whitehall source last night said the whips’ office had known ‘for months’ about ‘serious allegations’ against Tory MP Charlie Elphicke, which were finally reported to the police on Friday night.

Meanwhile, Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom has said ministers who make women ‘feel uncomfortable’ could face the sack.