Former Conservative MP Aaron Bell engaged in "brazen and drunken" sexual misconduct in the parliament bar, according to a watchdog's findings.
The ex-MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme "abused his position of power" by inappropriately touching a woman "on her left thigh, waist, and bottom without her consent" while in one of parliament's bars in December 2023.
The panel concluded that, had Mr Bell still been an MP, it would have considered suspending him from parliament "for a significant period".
Mr Bell, who did not seek re-election in July and whose seat is now held by Labour, expressed his "disappointment" with the investigation's outcome but chose not to appeal the findings.
"I apologise for any upset caused to the complainant and wish to clarify that I did not intend to cause any distress," he stated.
The findings were reported by Daniel Greenberg, the standards commissioner tasked with investigating alleged breaches of the code of conduct for MPs, following a complaint made to parliament's independent complaints and grievance scheme in February 2024.
Mr Greenberg referred the case to the Independent Expert Panel (IEP), which operates above parliament's standards committee, to determine the appropriate sanction.
The IEP sub-panel found a "serious case of sexual misconduct involving an abuse of power" that had an "enduring impact on the complainant".
It stated that Mr Bell, who served as a government whip responsible for enforcing party discipline and ensuring colleagues voted with the government, "abused his position of power over the complainant".
"Not only was he considerably older, but he was also a member of parliament, thereby holding a particularly powerful role," the panel noted.
It was further highlighted that Mr Bell was an assistant government whip at the time, a role described as one with "considerable authority" that involved "upholding the highest standards of conduct".
Source:
Sky News
