Sunak faces fresh by-election headache after standards body recommends six week suspension for Tory MP Peter Bone

16 October 2023, 11:39 | Updated: 16 October 2023, 13:02

Peter Bone faces a by-election if his suspension is upheld
Peter Bone faces a by-election if his suspension is upheld. Picture: Alamy

By Will Taylor

Rishi Sunak faces another by-election headache after a panel recommended Tory MP Peter Bone should be suspended for six weeks for bullying and sexual misconduct allegations.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The Wellingborough MP "committed many varied acts of bullying and one act of sexual misconduct" against a staff member in 2012 and 2013, the standards watchdog said.

Parliament's Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme found he indecently exposed himself on a trip overseas and upheld five bullying accusations.

The complainant was "trapped" in a room with Bone in Madrid when he deliberately exposed himself, it was said.

He "verbally belittled", "humiliated" and "struck and threw things" at the complainant. The staff member made a complaint in October 2021, four years after they lodged one with the Conservative Party.

Bone was also found to have imposed an "unwanted and humiliating ritual" where he told the complainant to put his hands on his lap and pressurised him to give him a massage.

The complainant said he felt like a "broken shell" and had to give up his political career. He said he has suffered a "long-lasting negative impact on his life" and has anxiety.

Read more: SNP votes to demand independence if it wins majority of MPs at next general election

A suspension, which was recommended by the Independent Expert Panel, could trigger a by-election for his seat.

Bone responded on X: "Today the Independent Expert Panel (IEP) has published a report finding me guilty of misconduct. As I have maintained throughout these proceedings, none of the misconduct allegations against me ever took place. They are false and untrue claims. They are without foundation.

"The allegations by an ex-employee refer to events of more than 10 years ago that spanned no more than a few months. The complainant first made the allegations years after they left my employment. They did not raise them at any time during their employment, either in writing or verbally with me, nor with their line managers.

"I am not permitted under the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) process to fully respond to the allegations in public. Nor can I detail my views on the huge inconsistencies and lack of evidence in the allegations, or highlight areas that proved the allegations were factually false.

Read more: Rishi Sunak vows to stand behind Israel and protect British Jews as Netanyahu says 'the next stage is coming'

"However I can say that the allegations are the only allegations at all made against me throughout my work as an MP and beyond. Witness statements were submitted from ten employees (current and former) of the highest integrity, testifying to the professional, accommodating and friendly place my office is to work. Many others would be prepared to testify the same."

He described the investigation by the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme as "flawed" and "procedurally unfair" and had acted beyond its powers.

The suspension will need to be approved by his colleagues in the Commons, and a recall petition will be triggered if the punishment is upheld.

That could lead to a by-election - the latest in a series of bruising votes Sunak has gone through in his time as leader.

He already has to try and hold onto Mid-Bedfordshire after Nadine Dorries' resignation, as well as the Tamworth seat formerly held by Chris Pincher, the MP at the centre of a storm that led to Boris Johnson resigning as PM.

Both votes will be held on Thursday.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Children look at a washing machine. British Gas customers can get paid to reduce their energy this evening

Nearly half-a-million British Gas customers can get paid to reduce energy this evening

Pontins' Prestatyn and Camber Sands sites are set to shut with “immediate effect”

Pontins closes holiday parks with 'immediate effect' leaving Brits ‘heartbroken’ and holidays in disarray

Aslef train drivers have voted to go on strike

Rail misery continues as train drivers vote to go on strike for another six months

Police powers are minimising the effectiveness of protests - with groups like Just Stop Oil now being arrested within just 10 seconds.

Police powers are minimising the effectiveness of protests with eco-groups arrested within seconds

Nepal Same Sex Marriage

Nepalese couple vow to continue campaigning after same-sex marriage recognised

Mehmet Koray Alpergin (right) and Gozde Dalbudak (left) were snatched as they returned home from an Italian restaurant in Mayfair, central London, last October, the Old Bailey was told

Thugs guilty of killing DJ after torturing him to death while kidnapped partner heard his dying screams

Madagascar Election

Madagascar’s top court ratifies presidential election result after boycott

Susan Hall said her wallet had been stolen and the incident was an example of crime being out of control in London

'She dropped it': Good Samaritan who returned Susan Hall's 'stolen' wallet reveals he found it between Tube seats

Aslef union has promised rolling strikes between 1 and 9 December

Will your train journey be affected over the Christmas period? December strikes explained

King Charles warned Cop28 that the 'hope of the world' rested on the Dubai summit's shoulders today

'Hope of the world' rests on Dubai climate summit, King Charles tells Cop28

Exclusive
A Met Police officer tasered a 10-year-old girl

Father of girl, 10, tasered by police says officer's actions are a 'green light to go around tasering anybody'

Dozens of schools have been forced to close amid the snowfall

Dozens of UK schools forced to close as Brits wake up to snow - see the full list

Japan US Osprey Crash

Japan voices concern about US military using Osprey aircraft after fatal crash

Thousands of families face being kicked out of their homes ahead of Christmas

'It's about not having anywhere for my kids to sleep': 12,500 families face eviction by Christmas

Engineers were called to the scene after an overhead cable failing left 700 passengers without power or working toilets.

‘Inhumane’ conditions as Eurostar passengers stranded for eight hours without toilets or power

Israel Palestinians

Israeli jets hit Gaza targets after week-long truce expires