LONDON: An MP who made repeated unwanted sexual advances to a member of staff faces a six-week suspension from the Commons.Rob Roberts was stripped of the Tory whip after a complaints panel found he.
An MP who made repeated unwanted sexual advances to a member of staff faces a six-week suspension from the Commons.
Rob Roberts was stripped of the Tory whip after a complaints panel found he abused his position of authority and broke Parliament’s sexual misconduct policy.
The disgraced MP apologised and said the “breach of trust” was “completely improper and should not have happened”.
The Independent Expert Panel (IEP) found that Mr Roberts made repeated and unwanted advances towards the man, although the MP insisted his actions were “romantic” rather than sexual.
The suspension will only be imposed if it is approved by MPs and a loophole means Mr Roberts may escape the prospect of his constituents forcing a by-election despite the serious punishment.
Tory MP Rob Roberts has whip removed over sexual harassment breach
The MP was found to have made repeated and unwanted advances towards a member of his staff
25 May 2021 • 9:08pm
Mr Roberts has apologised and said the breach of trust was completely improper and should not have happened
Credit: UK Parliament /PA
A Conservative MP who has been stripped of the whip and suspended from the Commons for six weeks over unwanted sexual advances will not face a by-election because of obscure process rules.
The Independent Expert Panel (IEP) found that Rob Roberts, the MP for Delyn in North Wales, made repeated and unwanted advances towards a member of his staff, although the MP insisted his actions were romantic rather than sexual.
Rob Roberts, MP for Delyn CONSERVATIVE MP Rob Roberts faces being suspended from the Commons for six weeks after a complaints panel found he broke Parliament’s sexual misconduct policy. The Independent Expert Panel (IEP) found that Mr Roberts, MP for Delyn in North Wales, made repeated and unwanted sexual advances towards a man. The suspension can only be imposed if agreed by MPs. Sir Stephen Irwin, chairman of the IEP, said: “The misconduct demonstrated here was significant.” He added: “Our conclusion is that the determination of six weeks suspension from the service of the House was proper and proportionate.”