26 October 2023 , 15:47
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Tory MP Crispin Blunt has been arrested over an allegation of rape and possession of drugs.
The veteran Conservative politician has had the Tory whip suspended pending the outcome of the police investigation. He has been asked to stay away from the parliamentary estate.
Mr Blunt, 63, who has been the MP for Reigate since 1997, published a statement to confirm he was arrested on Wednesday “in connection with an allegation of rape”. He said he was interviewed this morning under caution.
Mr Blunt explained it had been the second time he’d been quizzed about the incident, with the first time being three weeks ago when he reported concerns of blackmail. The Tory MP said the arrest was "unnecessary" and said he was “confident” the investigation “will end without charge".
Surrey Police confirmed he has been released on "conditional police bail pending further enquiries". Its statement said it had arrested a man on alleged possession of drugs, as well as an allegation of rape.
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Crispin Blunt identified himself as the Tory MP who was arrested over rape allegations (Handout)In his full statement, Mr Blunt said: "It has been reported that an MP was arrested yesterday in connection with an allegation of rape. I am confirming that MP was me. The fact of the arrest requires a formal notification of the Speaker and then my Chief Whip.
"I have now been interviewed twice in connection with this incident, the first time three weeks ago, when I initially reported my concern over extortion. The second time was earlier this morning under caution following arrest. The arrest was unnecessary as I remain ready to cooperate fully with the investigation that I am confident will end without charge. I do not intend to say anything further on this matter until the police have completed their inquiries."
It is the latest in a string of arrests of MPs in relation to alleged sexual crime. Two former Tory MPs have been convicted of sexual assault. Mr Blunt was forced to apologise last year after defending fellow MP Imran Ahmad Khan, who was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy. Khan, the former MP for Wakefield, was last year sentenced to 18 months in jail.
Charlie Elphicke, who was the MP for Dover, was sentenced to a two-year prison term in 2020 on three counts of sexual assault against two women. Another sitting Conservative MP, who cannot be named, was arrested in May 2022 on suspicion of indecent assault, sexual assault and rape. He has not been charged.
In the past, the speaker of the House of Commons would make it public when an MP had been arrested. This practice was ended in 2016 after MPs voted to give greater privacy to their colleagues when arrested.
The Conservative Party has faced several sleaze scandals in recent months. Tory MP Peter Bone this week was suspended from Parliament for six weeks after flashing an aide and leaving him feeling like a "broken shell" after a long campaign of alleged bullying. Former Tory Deputy Chief Whip Chris Pincher was forced to resign after losing an appeal against a Commons suspension for groping two men.
Mike Clancy, General Secretary of Prospect, said: "How many more cases like this will it take for action to be taken to protect staff and visitors on the parliamentary estate? The Leader of the House must bring forward a vote on excluding MPs under investigation for violent and sexual offences from accessing the parliamentary estate as soon as Parliament returns.“
A spokeswoman from Surrey Police said: "We can confirm a man in his 60s was arrested yesterday morning (25 October) in Horley on suspicion of rape and possession of controlled substances. He has been released on conditional police bail pending further enquiries.”
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