Minister: Rape case MP must stay anonymous

THE policing minister today suggested that the MP arrested on rape allegations should remain anonymous as naming those accused of sex crimes “puts enormous strain on them”.

Kit Malthouse said there are “safeguarding and protection issues” for both alleged victims and perpetrators in such cases.

The unnamed Tory MP in his 50s has been accused of sexual assault offences as well as abuse of position of trust and misconduct in public office. He has been bailed until a date in mid-June.

The Conservative whips’ office has decided not to immediately remove the whip, or name him, in a move it said was to protect any alleged victims.

However his name, as well as those of MPs misidentified, have been widely circulating on social media.

Mr Malthouse told Times Radio: “We have in the past had MPs who have been accused of not dissimilar crimes who have been found innocent or where no further action has applied and that puts enormous strain on them as individuals, as indeed it does on victims who are making accusations in those circumstances.”

He added: “We also need to be aware that the naming of perpetrators of crimes often can expose their victims to identification. And so you need to be sensitive in those circumstances too.

“There is a safeguarding and protection issue there on both sides, victim and perpetrator, that needs to be proportionate to the situation so it’s very hard to have a hard and fast rule.”

He said that the Government had to be “sensitive about the anonymity and particular crime types of the accused until the police are in a position to take further steps” or charge the MP.

The Tory whips have told the MP in question not to attend Parliament, but he is not bound to do so.

Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said that unless the rules change, an MP has the right to come to the House of Commons while under police investigation. “Unless the rules change in the House, a member has the right to come in,” he told Times Radio.

He said the reputation of the House of Commons can only be rebuilt if “bad eggs” were removed.