Former Tory MP says sexual misconduct claims towards him ‘withdrawn’
F
ormer Somerton and Frome MP David Warburton has mentioned allegations of sexual misconduct towards him have been withdrawn.
Mr Warburton was suspended by the Conservative Party in April 2022 and resigned final month after a probe into the complaints.
A Westminster watchdog launched a reinvestigation into the claims after revealing the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards had discovered him responsible of three counts of misconduct as a substitute of the 2 upheld by the preliminary inquiry.
The Independent Expert Panel known as for each selections to be reassessed, criticising the “materially flawed” unique probe.
But it didn’t make findings concerning the allegations themselves and mentioned these questions stay “open”.
Mr Warburton claimed on Sunday that the complaints towards him had been withdrawn.
“I know it’s extremely rare for the Independent Expert Panel to fully uphold an appeal by an MP.
“I’m, of course, delighted but the past year has been extraordinarily painful for my family and for me, and the personal cost has been incalculable.
“As a result, and in order to speak out about the appalling injustice I have experienced, I have had to step down as an MP,” he mentioned in a press release.
The unique probe got here after a staffer in Mr Warburton’s Westminster workplace lodged a criticism with Parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) in March 2022, making allegations of sexual misconduct and two bullying and harassment claims towards him.
However, Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Daniel Greenberg then reviewed the proof and located Mr Warburton responsible of a 3rd, unspecified sexual misconduct cost.
Mr Warburton appealed towards Mr Greenberg’s resolution on the grounds it was “procedurally flawed and unreasonable” and claiming he had been denied a good listening to.
He has admitted cocaine use, saying he took the drug after ingesting “tons of incredibly potent” Japanese whiskey, however has mentioned the sexual misconduct claims towards him are false.