MP Crispin Blunt arrested on suspicion of rape
Ex-Tory MP Crispin Blunt has confirmed that he was arrested on Wednesday in connection with an allegation of rape.
In a statement, the Reigate MP, who had the whip suspended on Thursday, said he had twice been interviewed by police "in connection with this incident".
Mr Blunt said he originally raised the incident with police three weeks ago over "my concern about extortion".
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The Conservative Party withdrew the whip from Mr Blunt, meaning he will sit as an independent MP, after he confirmed he had been arrested. He has been asked to stay away from Parliament.
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A separate Conservative MP, in his 50s, was arrested on suspicion of rape in May 2022.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67233090
A senior Conservative MP, Crispin Blunt, has been arrested on suspicion of rape and possession of drugs.
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The MP for Reigate, a former justice minister and ex-chair of parliaments foreign affairs committee, said he was confident the investigation would end without charge.
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Most recently, Peter Bone, a Conservative MP, was suspended from parliament for six weeks after a watchdog found he had harassed and bullied a staff member and exposed his genitals near their face.
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Another former Conservative MP, Rob Roberts, sits as an independent after he was suspended from parliament for six weeks having been found by an independent panel to have made significant repeated and unwanted sexual advances towards a former member of staff and used his position as his employer to place him under pressure to accede.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/oct/26/conservative-mp-arrested-on-suspicion-of-rape-and-drugs-possession
Peter Bone suspension: What is a recall petition and what happens next?
That means what is known as a recall petition is opened - a document which proposes the MP is "recalled" to Parliament to face the electorate again in a by-election.
A petition will only be successful if at least one in 10 voters in the MP's constituency sign it - around 8,000 people in Wellingborough.
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The recall petition in the Wellingborough constituency is opening on Wednesday, 8 November and closes on Tuesday, 19 December, according to North Northamptonshire Council.
https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2023-10-26/peter-bone-is-suspended-so-what-happens-now