TORY MP QUIZZED BY POLICE OVER SEX ATTACKS
Ex-Minister is facing devastating claims from young Commons aide
A LEADING Tory MP was last night arrested on suspicion of raping and sexually assaulting a Commons researcher in the latest abuse scandal to hit the Government.
As the former Minister was being held in custody in an East London police station, his accuser – a woman in her 20s – was being interviewed by Scotland Yard officers yesterday at a separate location.
The claims have caused consternation in the party, with one senior Conservative politician said to have been ‘close to tears’ after being informed of the allegations.
It is likely to increase pressure on Tory Chief Whip Mark Spencer, who failed to take action against the MP, who cannot be named for legal reasons, when he was told about the
allegations a month ago. Mr Spencer last night said the woman had reported ‘abusive behaviour and threats’, but he does not believe there was any mention of sexual assault during the discussion.
The former researcher, who cannot be identified, says she was assaulted four times between July 2019 and January this year, including claims of a rape necessitating hospital treatment. The Mail on Sunday was unable to contact the MP for his response to the allegations. As of last night, he had not been charged.
A friend of the complainant said the woman was in a toxic
‘This was a coercive, controlling situation’
sexual relationship with the politician – defined by coercion and an imbalance of power – as he held sway over her Commons career.
It is understood that police have studied hundreds of texts between the pair which back up claims that their relationship was seriously troubled.
The woman was interviewed for five hours yesterday by specialist officers from the Metropolitan Police.
The investigation comes just days after Charlie Elphicke, the former Tory MP for Dover, was found guilty on three counts of sexually assaulting two women nine years apart – a conviction which led to the end of his marriage to wife Natalie.
Last night, Scotland Yard released a statement saying: ‘On Friday July 31, 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 London between July 2019 and January 2020. The Met has launched an investigation into the allegations.
‘A man was arrested on Saturday August 1 on suspicion of rape and is in custody in an East London police station’.
A friend of the complainant alleged that the MP had threatened to ‘destroy her life’, including by having her sacked from her job with a fellow Tory MP, if she ever went public with her allegations.
The woman believed she had been ‘coerced’ into a relationship with the MP, the friend said, explaining: ‘This was a controlling situation, where he would call her an “ungrateful little bitch.”’
The source said the woman had no experience of toxic relationships and believed his behaviour was normal, when in reality it was ‘straight abuse’.
‘He had power and control over her,’ the friend said,
It is alleged the MP told the woman he would ‘come after her’ if she went to the police – but backed off when her parents intervened and told him he was abusing their daughter.
A Conservative MP first raised the woman’s allegation a month ago with Mr Spencer, the Chief Whip, and Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the House of Commons, after speaking to the alleged victim.
It is understood that Mr Spencer did not take the allegations further when he was told of them because the complainant had asked him not to mention the complaint to the alleged perpetrator – and because Mr Spencer didn’t believe that there was any mention of a sexual assault.
He advised her to refer it to Parliament’s independent complaints and grievance scheme, which she then did.
A spokesman for Mr Spencer said when asked about the claims last week: ‘The Chief Whip takes all allegations of harassment and abuse extremely seriously and has strongly encouraged anybody who has approached him to contact the appropriate authorities, including Parliament’s independent complaints and grievance scheme’.
A Conservative Party spokesman said: ‘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.’