A CONSERVATIVE MP could face being ousted by his constituents after a Westminster committee recommended a six-week suspension from the Commons for bullying and sexual misconduct.
Peter Bone, who has represented Wellingborough for the Tories since 2005, “committed many varied acts of bullying and one act of sexual misconduct” against a member of his staff in 2012 and 2013, according to the UK Parliament’s Independent Expert Panel (IEP).
If approved by MPs, a six-week suspension would see a recall petition launched. If 10% of Bone’s constituents signed, then he would be ousted as an MP and a by-election called.
Bone has denied the charges against him, calling them “false and untrue” and “without foundation”.
The IEP report stated: "This is a serious case of misconduct. [Mr Bone] has been found to have committed many varied acts of bullying and one act of sexual misconduct. The bullying involved violence, shouting and swearing, mocking, belittling and humiliating behaviour, and ostracism."
It added: "This wilful pattern of bullying also included an unwanted incident of sexual misconduct, when the complainant was trapped in a room with the respondent in a hotel in Madrid, not knowing what was going to happen next. This was a deliberate and conscious abuse of power using a sexual mechanism: indecent exposure.
"It was woven into a pattern of inappropriate behaviour which also included requests for massages of his shoulders and neck and instructions to put hands in laps, including forcibly putting the complainant’s hands in his lap."
In a statement issued on Monday morning, the Tory MP said: “The allegations by an ex-employee refer to events of more than 10 years ago that spanned no more than a few months. The complainant first made the allegations years after they left my employment. They did not raise them at any time during their employment, either in writing or verbally with me, nor with their line managers.
“I am not permitted under the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) process to fully respond to the allegations in public. Nor can I detail my views on the huge inconsistencies and lack of evidence in the allegations, or highlight areas that proved the allegations were factually false.
“However I can say that the allegations are the only allegations at all made against me throughout my work as an MP and beyond. Witness statements were submitted from ten employees (current and former) of the highest integrity, testifying to the professional, accommodating and friendly place my office is to work. Many others would be prepared to testify the same.
I am also firmly of the opinion that on this occasion the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme investigation was flawed, procedurally unfair and didn't comply with its own rules and regulations. It is my belief that they have operated outside of the powers given to them by Parliament and I am currently discussing with lawyers what action could and should be taken.”
Five allegations by a Westminster staffer were made in October 2021, having had a complaint to then-prime minister Theresa May in 2017 unresolved, according to the IEP report.
Bone was made deputy leader of the House of Commons during the tail-end of Boris Johnson's Tory government.
