Tory MP arrested on suspicion of rape will not be suspended from party while investigation ongoing
Video report by ITV News Political Correspondent Shehab Khan
A Tory MP and former minister arrested on suspicion of rape will not be suspended from the party while investigations are ongoing.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed "a man in his 50s" was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of rape and has since been bailed.
The Sunday Times reported the woman who made the claims is an ex-Parliamentary worker.
The paper also alleged that the MP assaulted her, forced her to have sex with him and left her so traumatised that she had to go to hospital.
Police have said the man has been released on bail until a date in mid-August and an investigation has been launched.
A spokesperson on behalf of the Conservative Party Whips Office said no decision on whether to suspend the MP or not would be made until the police investigation had finished.
“These are serious allegations and it is right that they are investigated fully, the spokesperson said.
"The Whip has not been suspended.
"This decision will be reviewed once the police investigation has been concluded.”
Political Correspondent Shehab Khan explains what is known so far:
The "offences are alleged to have occurred" in three different areas of London - Westminster, Lambeth and Hackney - between July 2019 and January 2020, police said.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Met said: "On Friday, July 31, the Metropolitan Police Service received allegations relating to four separate incidents involving allegations of sexual offences and assault.
"A man in his 50s was arrested on Saturday, August 1, on suspicion of rape and is currently in custody in an east London police station."
Asked whether the accused man should have the whip removed, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said he was limited in what he could say due to the ongoing police investigation.
"This is a very serious allegation and it's right that it's treated as such," Mr Jenrick said.
"I understand that the police are now investigating so I don't think there's anything further that I can add, other than to say the chief whip and the government are fully aware and I'm sure will take all the steps that are necessary."
Asked whether the Conservative Party was a "safe place" for women and complaints were listened to, Mr Jenrick added: "We need to be a political party that ensures that women are safe and feel comfortable at all times and that is exactly what we are doing."
A Conservative Party spokesperson 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."
Labour said the decision not to immediately suspend the MP was "shocking".
Speaking to Times Radio, the Labour MP said: “It is very difficult to comment on the case itself, because it is quite rightly in front of the criminal justice system.
“But what I would say in this matter, is in any organisation – especially one like Members of Parliament who every day work with vulnerable people, young activists, members of staff – in any other organisation, were this police investigation to be going on, somebody would be suspended while the investigation was taking place.”
Calling the lack of action “shocking”, Ms Phillips said it sent a “terrible message” that senior figures were still able to secure “protection” from their Westminster status.
She added: “While pending a police investigation for a sexual crime, I think it is only right that the whip is withdrawn.”