LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Rishi Sunak may face another challenging election for a potential vacant parliamentary seat after a lawmaker lost an appeal against an eight-week suspension for sexually assaulting two men at a London club.
Chris Pincher, who currently serves as an independent, was suspended from the ruling Conservative Party by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson last year following allegations of sexual misconduct. Johnson’s initial response to the accusations, which appeared to minimize the seriousness of the situation, increased pressure that eventually led to his resignation as prime minister.
According to British parliamentary ethics rules, a lawmaker facing a lengthy suspension can be removed if constituents petition for it, triggering a special election to fill the seat.
Pincher did not contest the findings of the standards committee in parliament but argued that the punishment was disproportionate. On Monday, an independent panel of experts stated that his arguments were “misconceived or erroneous.”
Parliament will now vote on whether to approve the eight-week suspension. If more than 10% of Pincher’s constituents sign a recall petition, he will lose his position.
The Conservative Party, led by Sunak, suffered defeat in two strategically important parliamentary seats in July, sending a worrying signal about their chances in next year’s anticipated national election.
When asked whether Pincher should resign, Sunak’s spokesperson stated that the government emphasizes “integrity, professionalism, and accountability,” but ultimately, it is a personal decision for Pincher to make.
The Conservative Party is currently trailing behind the opposition Labour Party in opinion polls, and another defeat would be a source of embarrassment for Sunak.
Two men testified before parliament’s standards committee, recounting incidents in which Pincher inappropriately touched them at the private members’ Carlton Club last year. The committee’s June report described the physical contact as “unwanted, upsetting, and deeply inappropriate.”
Pincher apologized for his actions and claimed he could not recall the events.
(Reporting by Andrew MacAskill; Editing by Peter Graff)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
