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Tory MP Crispin Blunt has been arrested over an allegation of rape and possession of managed substances. The 63-year-old member of parliament for Reigate was arrested and questioned by Surrey police on Wednesday morning.
He has now had the whip suspended by the Conservative Occasion and he has been requested to steer clear of the parliamentary property. After stories of the arrest of an unnamed Conservative MP emerged on Thursday night, Mr Blunt issued an announcement on Twitter/X vowing to clear his identify.
He claimed that he had initially been interviewed by police after he reported an alleged extortion. “It has been reported that an MP was arrested yesterday in reference to an allegation of rape,” Mr Blunt wrote. “I’m confirming that MP was me.
“The very fact of the arrest requires a proper notification of the speaker after which my chief whip. I’ve now been interviewed twice in reference to this incident, the primary time three weeks in the past, once I initially reported my concern over extortion. The second time was earlier this morning below warning following arrest.
“The arrest was pointless as I stay able to cooperate totally with the investigation that I’m assured will finish with out cost. I don’t intend to say something additional on this matter till the police have accomplished their inquiries.”
Mr Blunt has been the MP for Reigate, Surrey since 1997. Final 12 months he introduced he wouldn’t be standing for the Conservatives on the subsequent election.
He joined the military aged 18 for officer coaching at Sandhurst, serving within the thirteenth/18th Royal Hussars till 1990. He left the military to affix the world of politics, although didn’t get elected as an MP in West Bromwich East in 1992.
He went on to function Malcolm Rifkind’s particular adviser throughout Mr Rifkind’s phrases as defence secretary after which overseas secretary, between 1993 and 1997. He was elected as Conservative MP for Reigate on 1 Could 1997.
In 2010, whereas he was prisons minister, he introduced he was splitting from his spouse Victoria, revealing he had informed his household that he had “determined to return to phrases with [my] homosexuality”.
A press release from his workplace on the time mentioned that there was no third celebration concerned and requested the media to respect his household’s privateness. The couple have one daughter and one son.
He has served as opposition spokesperson for Northern Eire, shadow minister within the Division of Commerce and Business, opposition whip and shadow minister for nationwide safety.
A Surrey police spokesman informed The Impartial: “We will verify a person was arrested yesterday morning [25 October] on suspicion of rape and possession of managed substances. He has been launched on conditional police bail pending additional enquiries.”
Mr Blunt’s arrest is the most recent in a string of allegations involving sitting Conservative MPs, dealing one other damaging blow to Rishi Sunak and his vow to get robust on sleaze.
Former Tory MP Peter Bone was suspended on Wednesday for six weeks for bullying and sexual misconduct towards a employees member. MPs authorized the prolonged sanction towards the MP for Wellingborough, who has been sitting as an impartial since shedding the Conservative whip.
In September, Tory whip Chris Pincher resigned from his authorities position after allegations that he had groped two folks whereas drunk. A requirements committee upheld allegations Mr Pincher “groped” two males at London’s unique Carlton Membership whereas he was the Conservative deputy chief whip, in a scandal that hastened Boris Johnson’s downfall.
In Could 2022, it emerged {that a} Tory MP in his 50s had been arrested on suspicion of indecent assault, sexual assault, rape, abuse of place of belief and misconduct in public workplace.
The Tory whips’ workplace mentioned on the time that the MP had been requested to not “attend the Parliamentary property whereas an investigation is ongoing”. The newest extension to his bail is to mid-February.
Final December, one other senior Conservative MP was reported to the police over allegations they dedicated rape and a string of sexual assaults. The MP was reported to the Metropolitan Police by a bunch of colleagues, themselves Tory MPs.
And a Conservative MP was arrested on suspicion of rape in 2020. He was by no means recognized and police took no additional motion after an investigation.
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