Tory MP arrested on suspicion of rape and possession of drugs
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A Conservative MP has been arrested on an allegation of rape.
The unnamed member of parliament was arrested and questioned by Surrey police on Wednesday morning. He was later bailed pending further inquiries.
A Surrey police spokesman told The Independent: “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.”
The Conservative Party has been approached for comment.
It is the latest in a string of allegations involving sitting conservative MPs, dealing another damaging blow to Rishi Sunak and his vow to get tough on sleaze.
Former Tory MP Peter Bone was suspended on Wednesday for six weeks for bullying and sexual misconduct against a staff member. MPs approved the lengthy sanction against the MP for Wellingborough, who has been sitting as an independent after losing the Conservative whip.
In September, Tory whip Chris Pincher resigned from his government role after allegations that he had groped two people while drunk.
A standards committee upheld allegations Mr Pincher “groped” two men at London’s exclusive Carlton Club while he was the Conservative deputy chief whip, in a scandal that hastened Boris Johnson’s downfall.
Back in May 2022, it emerged that a Tory MP in his 50s had been arrested on suspicion of indecent assault, sexual assault, rape, abuse of position of trust and misconduct in public office.
The Tory whips’ office said at the time that the MP had been asked not to “attend the Parliamentary estate while an investigation is ongoing”. The latest extension to his bail is to mid-February.
Last December, another senior Conservative MP was reported to the police over allegations they committed rape and a string of sexual assaults.
The MP was reported to the Metropolitan Police by a group of colleagues, themselves Tory MPs.
And a Conservative MP was arrested on suspicion of rape in 2020. He was never identified and police took no further action after an investigation.