Tory ex-Minister arrested on suspicion of rape

[two sheds]

they're social distancing

 

[Wilf]

I dunno, if you watch it on BBC Parliament even Pre-Covid loads of the fuckers never seemed to be there

Statement on Commons Business:
'The Government will not be holding any 3 Line Whipped Votes as this would reveal who the rapist amongst our ranks is'.

 

[brogdale]

Yes, he'd turn up. and they'd cover up.

Do a May/Elphicke.

 

[Wilf]

This would be a good one for the Moral Maze, 'Should rapey MPs be allowed to turn into work'. They'll have Lady Fox for continuity, but perhaps get Lord Botham in as the new blood.

 

[Cerv]

would taking a whole month off like this be beyond the normal bounds of what the whips' office agree to in pairing?
admittedly it's unlikely to be an issue that actually comes to a head given how large the government majority is. but what if Labour make a point of not taking anyone out in return for him. it's not like he's off sick, or unavailable away on government business is it.

 

[Wilf]

would taking a whole month off like this be beyond the normal bounds of what the whips' office agree to in pairing?
admittedly it's unlikely to be an issue that actually comes to a head given how large the government majority is. but what if Labour make a point of not taking anyone out in return for him. it's not like he's off sick, or unavailable away on government business is it.

Wouldn't put anything past this lot of scummers but I doubt they'd have the nerve to ask for a pair on this. Mind, if they did, there'd be bluster from Labour but they're so into westminster protocol that I bet they wouldn't name the MP, even then.

 

[two sheds]

they hardly need the pairings now though

 

[cyril_smear]

Nope. Don't be the first.

I'm still trying to find out who it is.

 

[Pickman's model]

I'm still trying to find out who it is.

Your best efforts seem unlikely to be crowned by success

 

[maomao]

would taking a whole month off like this be beyond the normal bounds of what the whips' office agree to in pairing?
admittedly it's unlikely to be an issue that actually comes to a head given how large the government majority is. but what if Labour make a point of not taking anyone out in return for him. it's not like he's off sick, or unavailable away on government business is it.

It would make no difference given the size of the government majority. He wouldn't even be needed for a vonc. And lots of MPs rarely turn up at the HoC. Sinn Fein never turn up.

 

[Pickman's model]

It would make no difference given the size of the government majority. He wouldn't even be needed for a vonc. And lots of MPs rarely turn up at the HoC. Sinn Fein never turn up.

sinn fein often turn up at the house of commons. they have never formally taken their seats but they have availed themselves of the facilities available to mps like offices and funds for administrative support. see eg this 2001 article BBC News | UK POLITICS | Sinn Fein 'to get Commons offices' this later but still 2001 guardian article Sinn Fein offered offices at Westminster and there are numerous other articles

 

[Streathamite]

I'm still trying to find out who it is.

whatever you do, don't post speculation here. Editor will - understandably - have a fit

 

[Pickman's model]

whatever you do, don't post speculation here. Editor will - understandably - have a fit

frankly it's harder to work out who of the possible cohort it couldn't be than who it could.

which male tory mps wouldn't you suspect of some sort of sexual crime?

 

[Raheem]

There are probably one or two who have been there long enough to have left loopholes for themselves in the legislation.

 

[polly]

Gosh I wonder who it could possibly be.

 

[Streathamite]

frankly it's harder to work out who of the possible cohort it couldn't be than who it could.

which male tory mps wouldn't you suspect of some sort of sexual crime?

certainly can't think of any off hand

 

[phillm]

Having trawled through the open sewer that is twitter opinions seem to have hardened around the original 'prime suspect' who is keeping an unusually low profile. He really should clean up his Facebook profile comments though as should all MPs if they want to appear 'contemporary'.

 

[two sheds]

Having trawled through the open sewer that is twitter opinions seem to have hardened around the original 'prime suspect' who is keeping an unusually low profile. He really should clean up his Facebook profile comments though as should all MPs if they want to appear 'contemptible'.

cfu

 

[cyril_smear]

Edit...

 

[two sheds]

or not

 

[Streathamite]

Name names

er no - don't!
Immunity will eventually have to be lifted, but there is such a thing as contempt of court

 

[cyril_smear]

or not

Or not. I've had one too many and being a knob head.

I don't agree with naming.

 

[Streathamite]

Or not. I've had one too many and being a knob head.

I don't agree with naming.

fair enough.

 

[tim]

sinn fein often turn up at the house of commons. they have never formally taken their seats but they have availed themselves of the facilities available to mps like offices and funds for administrative support. see eg this 2001 article BBC News | UK POLITICS | Sinn Fein 'to get Commons offices' this later but still 2001 guardian article Sinn Fein offered offices at Westminster and there are numerous other articles

Frank Maguire, pub landlord and the independent Republican MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone turned up in Westminster to abstain in person in the vote of confidence for Jim Callaghan in 1979. Callaghan lost it by one vote and as a result we got the election that brought in Thatcher. Maguire died two years later and Bonny Sands won the seat in the subsequent by-electio

 

[Pickman's model]

Frank Maguire, pub landlord and the independent Republican MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone turned up in Westminster to abstain in person in the vote of confidence for Jim Callaghan in 1979. Callaghan lost it by one vote and as a result we got the election that brought in Thatcher. Maguire died two years later and Bonny Sands won the seat in the subsequent by-electio

Sadly sands, elected on a smash h-block ticket, never given the opportunity to attend

 

[Pickman's model]

er no - don't!
Immunity will eventually have to be lifted, but there is such a thing as contempt of court

Immunity? What Immunity?

 

[Streathamite]

Immunity? What Immunity?

the embargo on naming names, done in this instance to protect not the accused but the victim's anonymity. The last thing she needs right now is the media camped on her doorstep

 

[phillm]

the embargo on naming names, done in this instance to protect not the accused but the victim's anonymity. The last thinbg she needs right now is the media camped on her doorstep

She is working with Time's journalists on this which is why they have more detailed scoops than others on details of the case.

Tory MP accused of rape stays away from parliament

A former Conservative minister arrested on suspicion of rape has agreed not to return to Westminster next month after his bail was extended to November.The MP has voluntarily agreed not to return to parliament when the summer recess ends on September 1. Opposition MPs had called for him to be suspen

www.thetimes.co.uk

Tory MP accused of rape stays away from parliament
Steven Swinford, Deputy Political Editor
Monday August 17 2020, 12.01am, The Times

The MP has voluntarily agreed not to return to parliament when the summer recess ends on September 1
A former Conservative minister arrested on suspicion of rape has agreed not to return to Westminster next month after his bail was extended to November.
The MP has voluntarily agreed not to return to parliament when the summer recess ends on September 1. Opposition MPs had called for him to be suspended but the Conservatives are resisting calls to remove the whip.
A spokesman for the whips’ office said: “These are serious allegations and it is right that they are investigated fully. A decision on the whip will be reviewed once the police investigation has been concluded.”

The MP was taken into custody in east London on August 1 and then released pending investigations.

The complainant reported four incidents alleged to have taken place between July 2018 and January this year. She alleges that the MP assaulted her, forced her to have sex and left her so traumatised that she had to go to hospital. The allegations were reported to the chief whip, Mark Spencer. Mr Spencer does not believe that a sexual assault was reported to him during his conversation with the complainant, but he recalls that she reported “abusive behaviour and threats”.

He told her to go to parliament’s independent complaints and grievance scheme, which she did earlier this year.
Unions for parliament staff, the TUC, Centenary Action Group, Fawcett Society and Women’s Aid have said that the MP should be suspended pending a full investigation.

“The House of Commons should be no different from any other workplace. Safety and the safeguarding of staff must be paramount. Failure to suspend is yet another example of minimising violence against women and girls and failure to believe victims and survivors when they bravely speak out,” they said.

Details of the former minister’s arrest emerged days after Charlie Elphicke, the former Tory whip, became the first MP in a generation to be convicted of sexual assault.

 

[Pickman's model]

the embargo on naming names, done in this instance to protect not the accused but the victim's anonymity. The last thinbg she needs right now is the media camped on her doorstep

yeh they should be socially distancing

 

[Streathamite]

She is working with Time's journalists on this which is why they have more detailed scoops than others on details of the case.

ahhh...didn't know that. Still think the anonymity is a good idea.