Boris Johnson ‘shocked’ to learn of rape allegation against Tory MP
Labour is calling for the Conservative whip to be suspended from the politician following his arrest.
Boris Johnson was “shocked” when he was told that a Conservative MP is under police investigation after being accused of rape and sexual assault offences.
The Metropolitan Police said the unnamed man in his 50s, who was bailed pending further inquiries on Wednesday, was also detained on suspicion of indecent assault, abuse of position of trust and misconduct in public office.
Downing Street said the Prime Minister was first told of the news about the allegations on Tuesday.
But No 10 would not comment on why the Tory whip had not been removed following the police investigation becoming public knowledge.
Labour has argued the Tories should suspend the whip from the MP in question – a move that would see the accused named.
A spokesman for opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “It’s a matter for the Conservative Party what they do, but our view is that, given the nature of the allegations, then the whip should be suspended and obviously at that point it would become public.”
Tory chief whip Chris Heaton-Harris has urged the MP to stay away from Parliament but has not suspended the whip, meaning the suspect remains a member of the parliamentary party.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle confirmed the suspect had agreed to stay away from Westminster and urged fellow MPs not to reveal his identity.
The Prime Minister’s press secretary told reporters that Mr Johnson was “shocked to learn of these allegations”.
However, she batted away questions about why MPs had previously been suspended by the Tories during probes but that the same approach was not being taken with the arrested politician.
“I appreciate there will be a lot of questions on this topic but while there is an ongoing investigation I hope you will understand that it won’t be appropriate for me to comment on that specific question,” she said.
