Former Tory MP reprimanded for sexual misconduct

Former Conservative MP Aaron Bell has been reprimanded by Parliament's standards watchdog for "brazen and drunken" intersexual misconduct.

Bell was recovered to person touched a pistillate "on her near thigh, waist and bottommost inappropriately and without her consent" successful 1 of Parliament's bars successful December 2023.

The Independent Expert Panel (IEP) concluded that if Bell had inactive been an MP it would person considered suspending him from Parliament "for a important period".

Bell announced his decision to measurement down arsenic the MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme earlier this twelvemonth citing idiosyncratic and household reasons.

Responding to the report, helium said helium was "disappointed astatine the outcome" but would not entreaty the findings.

"I apologise for immoderate upset caused to the complainant and privation to marque it wide that I did not mean to origin immoderate distress.

"This probe was 1 of the reasons I chose not to question re-election astatine the wide predetermination - I person fto down the loyal members of my relation and convey them for the enactment they gave maine arsenic a Member of Parliament. I would besides similar to apologise to the radical of Newcastle-under-Lyme, whom it was an honour to serve.

"This has been a hard clip for my household and I would inquire that their privateness is respected astatine this time."

The ailment against the MP was lodged successful February 2024 and subsequently upheld.

The IEP concluded that Bell had "abused his presumption of powerfulness implicit the complainant".

The sheet added: "Not lone was helium considerably older, but helium was besides a Member of Parliament truthful holding a peculiarly almighty role.

"In addition, helium was an adjunct authorities whip which is not lone a… relation with sizeable authority, but also… involves upholding the highest standards of conduct.

"It does not trim the seriousness of the behaviour that it took spot successful a bar.

"Any Member of Parliament successful that mounting remains a idiosyncratic with peculiar powerfulness and authority.

"Indeed, intersexual misconduct specified arsenic this, which is some brazen and drunken, makes the behaviour much superior arsenic the level of menace is increased."

The probe conducted interviews with the complainant, oculus witnesses and Bell. It besides reviewed WhatsApp messages betwixt those involved.

Bell told the researcher “I was intelligibly drunk” and that helium could not “recall everything astir the evening”.

The study states: “He said helium remembered touching the complainant’s thigh, “probably her waist”, but helium denied touching her bottom.

"His relationship was that determination was communal flirting, which led to his touching the complainant.

"But successful narration to his proposition of flirting, helium added that: ‘Probably, to beryllium fair, much from maine to her than the different mode round’.

"The complainant denied immoderate communal flirting oregon encouragement successful immoderate way."