Tech bosses could face jail time for failing to protect children online, after the government conceded to a backbench rebellion. "He has now been bailed to a date in mid-June, pending further inquiries. Archer was found guilty on two counts of perverting the course of justice, and two counts of perjury. Some 56 MPs have reportedly been referred to Parliament's Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) over about 70 separate complaints. The growing group of independent MPs now face a difficult decision of whether to run again as independent candidates, retire, or join another party. Before his sentencing, the judge presiding over the case said the charges represent as serious an offence of perjury as I have had experience of and have been able to find in the books, reported the BBC at the time. Labour's shadow culture secretary Lucy Powell said the concessions showed the prime minister's "weakness". In 2001 Archer was sentenced to an additional four years in prison after being found guilty of lying during a 1987 libel case he brought against the Daily Star after allegations he paid a prostitute for sex. ", Speaking to Talk TV, Mr Afolami announced that he too would have to step down, adding: "I just don't think the Prime Minister any longer has, not just my support, but he doesn't have, I don't think, the support of the party, or indeed the country any more.". A male Tory MP in his 50s, who has not been named, was arrested in May on suspicion of rape and sexual assault offences between 2002 and 2009. Boris Johnson has now also faced a wave of resignations by more junior members in his Government. Read about our approach to external linking. A former health minister, the Wimbledon MP was sacked last year from his role as Conservative vice-chairman for London for voting for a legal guarantee of a final Brexit deal. "Isn't this the first recorded case of the sinking ships fleeing the rats.". ", My statement on why Ive lost confidence in the Prime Minister pic.twitter.com/NS4kxidOD1. Sally-Ann Hart, the MP for Hastings and Rye, is also reported not to have been re-adopted by her local Tory party as their candidate for the next general election. A caretaker was also killed in the attack. Updated: 8:57, 18 May 2022 A TORY MP has been arrested on suspicion of rape and sexual assault offences, The Sun can reveal. We may not have always been popular, but we have been competent in acting in the national interest. I have read them carefully, and taken them into consideration as part of my decision. Before the vote she told the BBC her "constituents mean a whole lot more to me than keeping the Conservative whip". The offences are alleged to have occurred in London. Ms Crosbie said in a Facebook post that if Mr Johnson is left in office, he will "irrevocably" harm the Government and the Conservative Party. The sex assault arrest comes after Parliament was rocked by a fresh Pestminster scandal amid a recent flurry of cases. He is also being investigated by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards over separate allegations surrounding possible breaches of Commons lobbying rules and the register of interests. A humiliating apology from the Prime Minister failed to prevent the departure of Rishi Sunak as chancellor and Sajid Javid as health secretary. Trudeau MPs eye Ontario Liberal leadership as party gathers this weekend "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Mr Griffiths resigned from Government and was suspended by the Tories in 2018 after the Sunday Mirror revealed he bombarded two female constituents with "depraved" messages. 11 MPs mired in sleaze claims as Boris Johnson presides over - mirror One attendee at the first meeting said she appeared "emotional" and "very down". Tech bosses could face jail after Tory MPs revolt on bill Boris Johnson replied that Mr Pincher no longer had his Government job, nor the Conservative whip. Boris Johnson agreed that sexual misconduct would be "grounds for dismissal" for ministers when asked about the newspaper's report at Prime Minister's Questions in April. "Thank you to all of you who have written to me expressing your views. Something went wrong, please try again later. Theresa May's de-facto deputy was sacked from cabinet in 2017 after he was found to have made "inaccurate and misleading" statements over what he knew about claims pornography was found on his office computer in 2008. 10 during the first lockdown, it has emerged. Bradford, an Ulster Unionist and a Methodist minister, was assassinated by IRA gunmen in November 1981 at the age of 40. Phillip Lee, an ex-justice minister, and a prominent supporter of a second EU referendum, quit the Tories in dramatic fashion when he timed his resignation letter to be delivered at the moment Mr Johnson stood up at the dispatch box in the Commons. The bill will now begin what is expected to be a lengthy journey through the House of Lords, after MPs gave their final approval on Tuesday. Scotland Yard confirmed in a statement that a man aged in his 50s has been arrested on suspicion of indecent assault, sexual assault, rape, abuse of position of trust and misconduct in public office. The country may be days away from crashing out of the European Union. New Brexit deal on Northern Ireland thought to be close as Tory MPs told they 'must be in Westminster on Monday', Sacked ex-Tory chair Nadhim Zahawi apologises for tax bill scandal but says actions were 'careless, not deliberate', Imran Ahmad Khan: Former Tory MP who groped boy, 15, released from prison after serving half his sentence, "Until the conclusion of the investigation we will not be commenting further.". However he admitted "my crime - biggest crime - is that on another occasion I went in a second time". Victoria Atkins has resigned as justice minister. Both MPs have paid at least 23,000 in expenses to . A Conservative MP has been arrested on suspicion of rape and sexual assault offences spanning a seven-year period. Boris Johnson sacked 21 Tory MPs but found himself losing two other ministers, including his brother, over Brexit. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Paul Brand on Twitter: "NEW: Trouble brewing for Rishi Sunak on Conservative MPs have expressed anger that Partygate investigator Sue Gray has been offered a job as Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff. PM vows to 'get the job done' - LBC The Conservative MPs who resigned Boris Johnson's party: Scientists 'concerned' at PM's silence over rejoining EU's 95.5bn Horizon programme, Alex Salmond on the SNP's future - plus Windsor Framework not yet a 'slam dunk', King Charles to make first overseas visits to France and Germany, Buckingham Palace confirms. Whilst Simon Hoar announced he has written to Graham Brady "asking for a rule change governing the holding of confidence votes and a further confidence vote to be held". The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. "It has been an honour to serve in government since 2019 at both the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education. ", Minister for Schools Robin Walker also resigned this morning in his letter to the prime minister, he said: "Unfortunately, recent events have made it clear to me that our great party, for which I have campaigned all of my adult life, has become distracted from its core missions by a relentless focus on questions of leadership.". However, she remained an MP until her conviction, earning her the dubious honour of becoming the first sitting member of parliament in nearly three decades to be jailed, reported the BBC. MP Lee Anderson submitted a letter of no confidence this morning to the PM writing: "I do not hold a position I can resign from so the only thing I can do is make my feelings known to my constituents and party members. The resignation comes amid renewed scrutiny of sleaze in Westminster following a string of cases. The Eddisbury MP told Sky News before the vote she felt "so strongly about this that I'm prepared to put my job on the line for my constituents". Subscribe to our daily newsletter! He had been accused repeatedly putting his hand on journalist Julia Hartley Brewer's knee during a dinner in 2002 and lunging at Jane Merrick, another political journalist, in 2003. Online Safety Bill to return as soon as possible. As Channel 4reported, the jailing of so many MPs led to the startling statistic" that in 2011, while 0.13 per cent of the general population was in jail, a shocking 0.61 per cent of House of Commons members were in prison. Can age verification stop children seeing porn? Emily Sheffield The move means the MPs have effectively kicked out of the Conservative Party. IEP chair Sir Stephen Irwin said at the time: The misconduct demonstrated here was significant.". A spokesperson for the whips office said: "The chief whip has asked that the MP concerned does not attend the Parliamentary estate while an investigation is ongoing. Click here to get The Sun newspaper delivered for FREE for the next six weeks. The 2009 expenses scandal eventually saw five MPs and two peers jailed as a result of police investigation into false expenses claims. The 21 Conservative MPs - many of them decades-long Tory loyalists - helped inflict defeat on Boris Johnson in his first major vote since becoming prime minister, winning a vote to override a Commons rule that says only the government can propose new laws. or Allies suggested the former farmer may have been looking for a brand of combine harvester, known as a Dominator. Parliaments Independent Expert Panel also ruled he came up behind the woman in his Westminster office and touched her inappropriately". He was killed by a failed businessman who blamed the prime minister for 7,000 he had lost in a dispute over a Russian debt. Scotland Yard said the man was "arrested on suspicion of indecent assault, sexual assault, rape, abuse of position of trust and misconduct in public office. Before having the whip removed, "Spreadsheet Phil", as he was known while chancellor, said he would explore legal action should he be removed as a Conservative MP. Boris Johnson has serious questions to answer about why Chris Pincher was given this role in the first place and how he can remain a Conservative MP. Eduardo Munoz/Reuters/Alamy The Conservative Party has accepted more than a million pounds in donations from the energy sector since the last election, openDemocracy can reveal. However, I fear I have let these override my judgement recently. They plan to be "agitating hard". Email us at exclusive@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4104. A jury at Southwark Crown Court heard how he forced the then teenager to drink gin and tonic and asked him to watch pornography before the attack at a house in Staffordshire following a party. Resigned this morning after being sent out on TV to defend the PM days ago, saying Downing Street briefings "have now been found to be inaccurate". The court heard how he had asked one of his victims about bondage and sex, then kissed her and groped her breast before chasing her around his home, chanting: Im a naughty Tory.. The Prime Minister added: "I want to say to him that I abhor bullying and abuse of power anywhere in Parliament, in this party or in any other party.". Our verdict Incorrect. "Reaching this decision has not been easy. Before the vote he said he knew he could have have the whip removed but had not been directly threatened. Labour MP Mike Hill was found to have broken Parliament's sexual misconduct rules - but not sanctioned as he had already resigned as MP for Hartlepool by the time of the watchdog's ruling. Speaking to the BBC at the time, the 65-year-old said: The situation was, funnily enough it was tractors I was looking at, so I did get into another website with sort of a very similar name and I watched it for a bit, which I shouldnt have done. Sir Jeremy Wright, a former attorney general, said there was a "strong case" for extending criminal liability - but this must be "appropriately" designed, adding the rebels' amendment had been too broad. Russian minister laughed at for Ukraine war claims. A Conservative ex-minister has defended the "integrity" of Sue Gray following the appointment of the partygate investigator to Labour's staff. The UK prime minister spoke to Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission president, on Friday, in a new attempt to nail down a deal, with speculation rising that it could be announced very soon. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Politics Hub: PM wants to 'fix' not 'nix' NI protocol. One of two former chancellors to vote against the government, for the Father of the House and current longest-serving MP to risk losing the whip after 49 years was a momentous occasion. I recognise this may be my last ministerial job, but I believe these standards are worth fighting for and that is why I am resigning.My letter to the Prime Minister below. At PMQs after Mr Johnson was hit by 17 resignations from Government, Sir Keir said the desertions from Government were like "sinking ships deserting the rat" accusing MPs who stick by the PM as having no "self respect". The sacking of the 21 rebels was done in alphabetical order, so Mr Vaizey was the last to find out. Having been the Newbury MP for 19 years, the loyal Conservative said he hopes he will have the whip restored and would not stand as an independent at the next general election as he would not want to make it difficult for a possible Tory successor. The union flag flies at half-mast from Victoria Tower over the Houses of Parliament in central London. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. Thrse Coffey, the deputy prime minister and Truss' closest ally, held a call with a supportive group of Tory MPs in an attempt to calm the waters at 2:15 p.m. and a second call with to which all Tory MPs were invited later in the afternoon. Jeremy Hunt WON'T cut taxes in Budget as soaring inflation still too "The fact of this matter have only come to light after the previous vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister so stop then members of parliament voted to retain the Prime Minister without knowing what we know now. There has been increasing speculation . Mr Bhatti quit his role with a statement that "recent events have undermined trust and standards in public life". "I would like to take this opportunity to put on record my sincere thanks to the hundreds of dedicated and hard-working civil servants with whom it has been a pleasure to work.". A former U.K. Conservative MP has been jailed for 18 months for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy. She welcomed the proposed changes to the bill but accused the government of "watering down" the legislation, arguing the scope of regulator Ofcom was too narrow. He has been very vocal with his opposition to a no-deal and revealed his position as part of Philip Hammond's rebel group by saying he was also facing having the whip withdrawn. A Liberal MP for Tamworth from 1880 to 1885 and Burnley from 1889 to 1893, Balfour was perhaps the most infamous fraudster politician of his era. "In response to these events the Prime Minister has not been truthful to the media to his own advisers and number 10 officials and to the party in disclosing what he knew. He said he was "unconvinced" Mr Johnson had a plan to reach a deal on Brexit. The Guildford MP quit her job as skills and apprenticeships minister minutes after Mr Johnson won the Tory leadership race, saying she had "grave concerns about leaving the EU without a deal". By Alix Culbertson and Rebecca Taylor, news reporters. Boris Johnson was dealt the biggest blow of his premiership by the resignations of two senior cabinet ministers on Tuesday evening in the wake of his handling of the row over scandal-hit former deputy chief whip Chris Pincher. Mr Johnson's subsequent sackings reduced that further. His resignation led to a by-election in his Devon seat which the Liberal Democrats won last week with a swing of almost 30 per cent. Dominic Lipinski - PA Images via Getty Images, allowed to take part in a vote of no confidence in Boris Johnson. The 41-year-old had been the Labour MP for Batley and Spen for just over a year when she was repeatedly shot and stabbed by Thomas Mair a social recluse in Birstall, in her West Yorkshire constituency. My crime, my most biggest crime, is that on another occasion I went in a second time, and that was deliberate. A Met Police spokesperson said the force is aware of widespread reporting relating to alleged breaches of the Health Protection Regulations at Downing Street, adding that it is currently in contact with the Cabinet Office. Then Amber Rudd, a prominent Remainer who had found herself in Mr Johnson's cabinet, quit her role in Work and Pensions and resigned the whip, saying the expulsion of 21 of her former colleagues was "political vandalism". Boris Johnson used a speech last week to call for ministers to show they are still the party of low tax in a bid to win back support ahead of the next election. Oil and gas firms have given 1m to Boris Johnson's Conservatives Neave, the Conservative shadow Northern Ireland secretary, was blown up one afternoon in March 1979 after his booby-trapped car exploded in the Palace of Westminster as he drove the vehicle from the underground car park. BREAKING: Prince Harry insists he is 'NOT victim' and has never looked for sympathy in livestream Q&A with controversial 'toxic trauma' doctor, Harry says marijuana 'really helped' him mentally but cocaine 'did nothing' for him, Kate Garraway shares Derek's final words as he believed he was about to die, Spencer Matthews sparks concern as Finding Michael documentary pulled at 11th hour, Cyclist pavement killer risks losing home as neighbours break silence, Hero NHS nurse who found lump in her own breast makes life-changing decision, Moment sonic boom 'like a gas explosion' shakes homes as RAF Typhoon aircraft scrambled, Cher, 76, shares candid update on relationship with 37-year-old boyfriend, Amy Winehouse biopic star swigs vodka on streets of Camden in gut-wrenching scenes, Cristiano Ronaldo hugs boy, 10, whose dad died in Turkey-Syria earthquake in moving clip, Bus carrying 40 schoolchildren plunges down creek in French Alps, Matt Hancock's 41-hour battle to save career after Gina Coladangelo affair revealed, Subscribe to Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror newspapers.