Does Tory MP rape arrest herald more Pestminster claims?
Conservative Party bracing for further sexual misconduct allegations
The so-called Pestminster scandal is back in the headlines following the arrest of an unnamed Tory MP over rape and sexual assault claims spanning a seven-year period.
The Metropolitan Police said a man in his 50s was taken into custody over allegations of “indecent assault, sexual assault, rape, abuse of a position of trust and misconduct in a public office” in London between 2002 and 2009. He was been released on bail pending further inquiries by Scotland Yard, which launched an investigation after receiving a complaint about the MP in January 2020.
The government’s chief whip, Chris Heaton-Harris, has ordered the MP to stay away from Parliament until the police probe has concluded. But “whips believe that if they suspend the MP from the party whip, thereby naming him, it would endanger the anonymity of the alleged victim or victims”, according to The Times.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Pest-minster 2.0
The arrest has plunged the Conservative Party into “further turmoil over the ongoing Pestminster scandal that has rocked Westminster”, said Politico London Playbook’s Alex Wickham. The MP was reportedly detained just hours after Boris Johnson told his cabinet that he wanted to focus on “crime, crime, crime”.
And less than a month has passed since Tory MP Imran Ahmad Khan was forced to resign after being convicted of molesting a 15-year-old boy. Fellow MP Neil Parish then stood down after admitting watching pornography in the Commons.
And a third Tory MP, David Warburton, has been suspended from the party following sexual harassment allegations.
More allegations
In another major potential blow to the party, an “upcoming television documentary on scandals in Westminster” is expected to claim that a “former Tory minister” is facing allegations of sexual misconduct “from a fellow MP”, according to The Mail on Sunday.
Channel 4’s Dispatches is set to reveal that a “cabinet minister is also facing multiple allegations of sexual misconduct with young staffers”, said the paper.
Parliamentary authorities are reportedly “worried about significant damage to trust in MPs” when the fresh wave of allegations “come to light this month, hot on the heels of recent scandals”.
A source said: “It erodes trust. It stops good people from wanting to join [Parliament].”
The Sunday Times reported last month that at least 56 MPs were under investigation over sexual misconduct claims reported to Parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS).
The allegations range from “sexual harassment to more serious wrongdoing” said the paper.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The history of Donald Trump's election conspiracy theories
The Explainer How the 2024 Republican nominee has consistently stoked baseless fears of a stolen election
By David Faris Published
-
Two ancient cities have been discovered along the Silk Road
Under the radar The discovery changed what was known about the old trade route
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
'People shouldn't have to share the road with impaired drivers'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What might a Trump victory mean for the global economy?
Today's Big Question A second term in office for the 'America First' administration would send shockwaves far beyond the United States' shores
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
What is the next Tory leader up against?
Today's Big Question Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will have to unify warring factions and win back disillusioned voters – without alienating the centre ground
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Why might The Washington Post's nonendorsement matter more?
Today's Big Question The Jeff Bezos-owned publication's last-minute decision to rescind its presidential preference might not tip the electoral scales, but it could be a sign of ominous things to come
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Was Georgia's election stolen?
Today's Big Question The incumbent Georgian Dream party seized a majority in the disputed poll, defying predictions
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
'Many antitrust officials today simply don't understand innovation'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Will Elon Musk's million-dollar election scheme pay off?
Today's Big Question By offering a million bucks to prospective voters to sign his pro-Trump petition, the Tesla billionaire is playing a risky electoral game — and a potentially criminal one, too
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
How would slavery reparations work?
Today's Big Question Caribbean nations lead call for 'meaningful' conversations on reparations at Commonwealth summit
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is legal weed a bipartisan issue now?
Today's Big Question Trump and Harris both favor legalization
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published