Conservative Party stands by decision not to suspend MP arrested over rape allegation as criticism mounts

The Conservative Party is standing by its decision not to suspend a former minister who has been arrested and bailed after being accused by a woman of rape and sexual assault. The senior Conservative MP, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was taken into custody on Saturday morning shortly before the Metropolitan Police announced it had launched an investigation. The man, in his 50s, was placed in custody at a police station in East London but has now been released on bail to a date in mid-August. A Metropolitan Police Service statement said officers received allegations relating to 'four separate incidents involving allegations of sexual offences and assault.' The complaints were lodged with the constabulary on Friday. In a statement, a spokesman for Mark Spencer, the Government Chief Whip, said that he took 'all allegations of harassment and abuse extremely seriously and has strongly encouraged anybody who has approached him to contact the appropriate authorities, including Parliament's Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme, which can formally carry out independent and confidential investigations."
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