Scotland Yard said the unnamed man, who remained in custody on Tuesday, was also detained on suspicion of indecent assault, abuse of position of trust and misconduct in public office. The MP is a backbencher aged in his 50s. He cannot be named for legal reasons

A Conservative MP who has been arrested on suspicion of rape and sexual assault offences spanning seven years has been urged to stay away from Parliament by the Chief Whip – but a staff union says the measure does not go far enough. 

Scotland Yard said the unnamed man, who remained in custody on Tuesday, was also detained on suspicion of indecent assault, abuse of position of trust and misconduct in public office.

The MP is a backbencher aged in his 50s. He cannot be named for legal reasons.

It is understood that a decision on whether the MP keeps the whip will be reviewed once the police investigation has concluded. 

Chief Whip Chris Heaton-Harris has asked the MP to stay away from Parliament during the probe. A whips office spokesman said: ‘The Chief Whip has asked that the MP concerned does not attend the Parliamentary Estate while an investigation is ongoing.

‘Until the conclusion of the investigation we will not be commenting further.’ 

Trade unions representing parliamentary workers said the MP should be banned from entering the Palace of Westminster. 

The GMB Members’ Staff union wrote on Twitter: ‘Staff safety must be the absolute priority and no chances should be taken.’

The Prospect union, which represents hundreds of staff working in the Houses of Parliament, said firm action is needed.

Deputy general secretary Garry Graham said: ‘What will it take for Parliament to finally take its responsibility to its staff and visitors seriously and suspend access to the estate for parliamentarians under investigation for sexual offences?

Scotland Yard said the unnamed man, who remained in custody on Tuesday, was also detained on suspicion of indecent assault, abuse of position of trust and misconduct in public office. The MP is a backbencher aged in his 50s. He cannot be named for legal reasons

Scotland Yard said the unnamed man, who remained in custody on Tuesday, was also detained on suspicion of indecent assault, abuse of position of trust and misconduct in public office. The MP is a backbencher aged in his 50s. He cannot be named for legal reasons

Scotland Yard said the unnamed man, who remained in custody on Tuesday, was also detained on suspicion of indecent assault, abuse of position of trust and misconduct in public office. The MP is a backbencher aged in his 50s. He cannot be named for legal reasons

‘Voluntary agreements to stay away do not work, as demonstrated by Imran Ahmad Khan’s attendance at Westminster whilst investigations were ongoing, despite agreeing to stay away.

‘Parliament has the same responsibilities towards its staff as any other workplace and it must live up to them.’

The Metropolitan Police said officers received a report in January 2020 relating to alleged sexual offences committed in London between 2002 and 2009.

Tory chief whip Chris Heaton-Harris (pictured) urged the MP to stay away from Parliament  

It was understood the Conservatives will not make a decision on whether the suspect has the whip suspended until after the police investigation is concluded.

Scotland Yard said the suspect was ‘arrested on suspicion of indecent assault, sexual assault, rape, abuse of position of trust and misconduct in public office’.

‘In January 2020, the Met received a report relating to alleged sexual offences having been committed between 2002 and 2009,’ the Met statement added.

‘The offences are alleged to have occurred in London.

‘An investigation is ongoing, led by officers from Central Specialist Crime.

‘He remains in custody.’

The arrest comes after Parliament was rocked by a fresh Pestminster scandal following a series of shocking cases.

Khan resigned as a Tory MP after last month being convicted of molesting a teenage boy. Conservative David Warburton was suspended following sexual harassment allegations. Around 50 MPs are said to have been referred to Parliament’s authorities over sex assault claims.

The arrest came on the day the Conservatives officially triggered by-election contests to replace two MPs. A contest in Wakefield follows Khan’s resignation. Tory Neil Parish quit his Tiverton and Honiton seat after he admitted watching pornography in the Commons. Farmer Mr Parish first said he accidentally viewed one X-rated video when browsing for tractors, before later doing so deliberately in the Commons chamber.

The Metropolitan Police said officers received a report in January 2020 relating to alleged sexual offences committed in London between 2002 and 2009

The Metropolitan Police said officers received a report in January 2020 relating to alleged sexual offences committed in London between 2002 and 2009

The Metropolitan Police said officers received a report in January 2020 relating to alleged sexual offences committed in London between 2002 and 2009

In 2020 former Tory MP Charlie Elphicke was sentenced to two years in prison after being found guilty of three counts of sexual assault against two women.

He was convicted in relation to a parliamentary worker in 2016 and a woman at his family’s London home in 2007.

Last year ex-Labour MP Mike Hill resigned after a former parliamentary worker alleged he sexually harassed and bullied her over a 16-month period, groping her and rubbing himself against her.

The Tory MP’s arrest threatened to overshadow the Government’s ‘crime week’ with Boris Johnson telling yesterday’s Cabinet meeting: ‘Crime, crime, crime is what we want to focus on.’ The PM said sexual and domestic violence victims needed to know the Government was on their side, adding: ‘We want to see more rapists brought to justice.’

In the last crime week last December, Mr Johnson faced allegations of Covid rule-breaking by his Downing Street team. Allegra Stratton, his adviser, quit after a video emerged of her laughing about an ‘illegal’ party in Number 10 during lockdown.

Mr Johnson also faced questions over whether he misled a probe into donations for refurbishments to his Downing Street flat after the Electoral Commission fined the Tories £17,800.

Last night there was no answer at the arrested MP’s home.

A person who answered the phone at his constituency office said: ‘I’m sorry we have got no information at all’, before putting the phone down. Conservative sources declined to identify the MP. A Speaker’s Office spokesman declined to comment.

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