Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

UK parliament dogged by misconduct claims as two more MPs suspended

UK parliament dogged by misconduct claims as two more MPs suspended

Rishi Sunak promised integrity in politics but some in his party think an electoral loss is needed to clear out unpleasant MPs.
The bad behavior never seems to stop with a ninth U.K. MP now under investigation as Westminster struggles to deal with a wave of abuse claims.

Two senior backbenchers — Julian Knight, a Conservative, and Labour’s Conor McGinn — were suspended by their parties Wednesday night.

Knight lost the whip after a complaint was made to the Metropolitan Police, a Conservative Party spokeswoman said, while declining to comment on the nature of the allegation. Knight, who has chaired the influential culture select committee since 2020, tweeted that the decision was “wrong and unjustified” and claimed he had been “subject to a campaign of rumor and innuendo.” He has “recused” himself from parliament, and is expected to be replaced as committee chair while the matter is investigated. 

McGinn, who has held several roles on Labour’s front bench, said he has not been told of the details of the allegation but was “confident that it is entirely unfounded.”

The ongoing scandal adds to the political pressure on Britain’s latest prime minister, Rishi Sunak. On the campaign trail this summer, Sunak vowed to prioritize integrity but has since been forced to confront a series of misconduct allegations against members of his own party. His own deputy PM, Dominic Raab, is currently under investigation following complaints of bullying, which he denies.

The string of cases is also affecting morale within the party. One female Tory parliamentary candidate said: “We’re all increasingly annoyed that it keeps happening.” She added that there “are quite a few younger Tories — male and female — who think a big loss [at the next election] could actually be the making of the party in terms of getting rid of dead wood, especially the more unpleasant elements.”

The latest suspensions bring the total number of British MPs currently under investigation over their conduct — by the police, party bosses or the parliamentary complaints scheme — to nine, while seven more MPs continue to sit as independents indefinitely after being suspended from their parties.

Knight is the fourth Conservative to be kicked out of the party this year, including former Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who lost the whip after announcing he would take part in the reality TV show “I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here.”

Former Chief Whip Chris Pincher, who oversaw party discipline, was suspended from the Conservative Party over the summer following allegations of sexual harassment and remains under investigation, as does backbencher David Warburton. An unnamed Conservative MP has been under arrest since May on suspicion of rape and other offenses, but retains the party whip.

Senior Tory MPs have warned the current system is not dealing properly with MPs accused of sexual harassment or assault. 

Andrea Leadsom, a former Cabinet minister, said: “It’s concerning to female colleagues that a male colleague could be accused of these things, and it just goes into the ether.”

When she was Commons leader, Leadsom helped set up parliament’s independent complaints system through which staff can report bullying and harassment. 

She told POLITICO the scheme was failing because the original plan to set up an HR service alongside it was never fully implemented, meaning the complaints system is “clogged” with lower-level workplace grievances, so victims are reluctant to pursue more serious accusations because it takes so long.

A protocol set up by the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS), which allows potential criminal behavior to be referred to the police, may never have been used, Leadsom suggested.

She said some female colleagues were “pretty miserable” with the general state of political life, and in particular, the slowness to deal with problems that damage the reputation of all MPs.

Rachel Maclean, Conservative Party vice-chair, insisted procedures for making complaints about MPs had improved in recent years. She told GB News “we have made a lot of progress” and that it was vital to maintain “due process and justice” in ongoing allegations. 

A House of Commons spokesperson said they did not accept the ICGS as “failing” and pointed out there is an established HR support service for MPs’ staff.

They added that a range of services are available to staff, including a free and confidential helpline for advice on personal and work-related issues, and that complaints are referred to other bodies where appropriate.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Truce
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
×