Allegations and Parliamentary Investigation
The Conservative MP Peter Bone faces a six-week suspension recommended by Parliament’s conduct watchdog due to allegations of intimidation and sexual misconduct.
The company took this step after a former employee complained about improper behaviour over a decade ago.
Possible House of Commons Vote
For the prohibition to be approved, a vote must take place in the House of Commons.
Recall Petition and By-Election Possibility
A recall petition could be initiated, potentially leading to a by-election for Mr. Bone’s Wellingborough seat.
The former employee expressed that the findings of the watchdog provided him “a sense of relief and vindication” and that his experience “continues to influence my life today.”
Mr. Bone’s Denial and the Tory Party’s Response
Mr. Bone has denied the accusations, describing them as “baseless.”
The Independent Expert Panel (IEP) of Parliament has determined that Mr. Bone violated Parliament’s sexual misconduct regulations by indecently exposing himself to a staff member during an international trip.
Additionally, five allegations of intimidation were upheld, one of which involved “directing or coercing the complainant physically to place his hands in his lap whenever Mr. Bone was dissatisfied with him or his work.”
Furthermore, the investigation revealed that he subjected the staff member to verbal denigration, ridicule, abuse, and humiliation, as well as “recurrent physical assaults and tantrums,” including striking him with a pencil or a rolled-up document.
Additionally, the claim that Mr. Bone “repeatedly pressured” the employee to perform a massage in the office was affirmed. This was determined to be intimidation, not sexual misconduct.
The Tory Party’s objection
Mr. Bone consistently denied the allegations and filed an appeal against the investigation’s conclusions, arguing that it was defective.
However, a subcommittee rejected his appeal, stating that the investigation had been conducted properly.
The complainant provided “compelling, nuanced, and plausible” evidence and maintained a detailed journal of Mr. Bone’s conduct at the time, according to the report.
His employees and family members who had discussed the topic confirmed his memory.
After the watchdog’s investigation, Mr. Bone called the claims “false and untrue” on Monday.
He added that the IEP established the investigation in June 2020 to examine allegations of sexual misconduct and intimidation by Members of Parliament, and he found it “deficient” and “procedurally unjust.”
The inquiry also followed an unresolved Conservative Party complaint from 2017 in October 2021.
The IEP said that the Conservative Party probe had “not progressed significantly” at this point.
Officially, the commission initiated a comprehensive investigation in August 2022. To avoid concurrent investigations, the staff member withdrew the complaint from the party.
The Conservative Party also initiated an investigation into the complaint. However, “the complainant chose to withdraw from the proceedings before the case was heard.”
The complainant has called for the Conservatives and other political parties to review their complaints procedures “under complete independent oversight.”
He emphasized that “it should not take five years for a complaint to be processed.”
