Nadhim Zahawi: 'Right' decision not to suspend Tory MP at centre of rape allegation until police probe concludes

Business minister Nadhim Zawahi has said it is "right" to allow a police investigation to take place before suspending a Tory MP accused of rape.

The unnamed former minister was arrested on Saturday after a former parliamentary aide made allegations of rape, sexual assault and coercive control. The abuse is alleged to have taken place during a relationship.

On Sunday the Conservative Whips' office said the MP, who is in his fifties, would not be suspended from the party while the police investigate the claims.

Jess Phillips, Labour’s shadow minister for domestic violence and safeguarding, described the decision as “shocking” and said it sent a “terrible message”.

Speaking to Sky News on Monday, business minister Nadhim Zahawi said it was a "very serious matter" and it's "only right" to allow the police to finish their investigation.

Asked why the MP had not been stripped of the Tory whip, Mr Zahawi said: "These are very serious allegations. There is a police investigation. I don't know the details of that police investigation.

"There's a victim here as well. It's right for us to wait until the police can do their investigation and you will be hearing from the chief whip as to what action will be taken. It's a very, very serious allegation."

He added: "It's right that they are able to conclude their investigation."

Mr Zahawi said he didn't want to "speculate" over the matter and it was "wrong to do so".

"I think it's only right that the police get to complete their investigation and then you will hear from the chief whip and hopefully all these questions will be asked," he said.

"I think it's completely wrong to go any further and I apologise, but I absolutely believe that sometimes, when the details are released, people will begin to understand why the chief chip or Conservative Party has acted in a particular way.

"I think it's only right that we allow the police to finish that investigation."

Ms Phillips told Times Radio on Sunday that the decision sent the "terrible message" that senior figures were still able to secure "protection" with their Westminster status.

She added: "While pending a police investigation for a sexual crime, I think it is only right that the whip is withdrawn."

But a spokesman for Government chief whip Mark Spencer said: "These are serious allegations and it is right that they are investigated fully.

"The whip has not been suspended. This decision will be reviewed once the police investigation has been concluded."

The Metropolitan Police said they received allegations on Friday of sexual offences and assault relating to four incidents at addresses in London, including in Westminster, between July last year and January this year.

A spokesman for the force said: "The Met has launched an investigation into the allegations."

A man was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of rape and taken into custody at an east London police station, the force added.

He has been released on bail to a date in mid-August.

A Conservative Party spokeswoman said: "We take all allegations of this nature extremely seriously.

"As this matter is now in the hands of the police it would be inappropriate to comment further."

The investigation comes days after former Tory MP Charlie Elphicke was convicted at Southwark Crown Court in a separate case of sexually assaulting two women, one of whom was a parliamentary worker.

Elphicke had the whip removed in November 2017 when the allegations first surfaced, but it was controversially restored before a confidence vote in Theresa May’s leadership the following year.

However, when Elphicke was formally charged in July 2019, the party suspended him again on the same day.

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