A prominent Tory MP has been arrested over an allegation of rape and possession of drugs, according to reports.
The man, whose identity cannot be disclosed for legal reasons, was questioned by the police yesterday. The Sun newspaper has reported that the MP has been released on conditional police bail pending further enquiries.
This incident is the latest in a series of arrests of MPs in relation to alleged sexual crimes. In May 2022, another sitting Conservative MP was arrested on suspicion of indecent assault, sexual assault, and rape. However, no charges have been filed against him.
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It is worth noting that two former Tory MPs have already been convicted of sexual assault. Charlie Elphicke, the former MP for Dover, was sentenced to a two-year prison term in 2020 for three counts of sexual assault against two women. Similarly, Imran Ahmad Khan, the former MP for Wakefield, was sentenced to 18 months in jail last year for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy.
In the past, the speaker of the House of Commons would publicly announce when an MP had been arrested. However, this practice was discontinued in 2016 after MPs voted to grant greater privacy to their colleagues when arrested.
The Conservative Party has recently faced several sleaze scandals. Tory MP Peter Bone was suspended from Parliament for six weeks after being accused of flashing an aide and subjecting him to alleged bullying.
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Former Tory Deputy Chief Whip Chris Pincher was also forced to resign after losing an appeal against a Commons suspension for groping two men. It is important to note that neither of these individuals is connected to the current allegation.
A spokesperson from Surrey Police confirmed the arrest, stating, “We can confirm a man was arrested yesterday morning (25 October) on suspicion of rape and possession of controlled substances. He has been released on conditional police bail pending further enquiries.”
