VETERAN Tory MP Peter Bone faces a six week suspension from the Commons after parliament’s sleaze watchdog today found him guilty of severe bullying and indecent exposure.
A bombshell new report from the Independent Expert Panel said the former minister exposed himself to a member of staff while “trapped” in a hotel room with him in Madrid in 2013.
AlamyParliament’s sleaze watchdog today recommended Tory MP Peter Bone be suspended from the Commons for six weeks over bullying and sexual misconduct complaints[/caption]
Mr Bone was found to have “committed many varied acts of bullying and one act of sexual misconduct” against the male staffer in 2012 and 2013.
Five shocking allegations upheld by sleaze chiefs included incidents of “violence, shouting and swearing, mocking, belittling and humiliating behaviour, and ostracism”.
Mr Bone this morning denied all the complaints levelled against him.
In a statement on X he said: “As I have maintained throughout these proceedings, none of the misconduct allegations against me ever took place.
READ MORE POLITICS
“They are false and untrue claims. They are without foundation.
“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.”
If Parliament approves the recommended suspension, Mr Bone faces a recall petition from constituents, which could then trigger a by-election in his Wellingborough seat.
But the MP today vowed to continue in his role.
Among the incidents, in one Mr Bone was found to have “repeatedly physically struck and threw things” at the complainant.
In another the MP imposed an “unwanted and humiliating ritual” forcing his staffer to put his hands in his lap when Mr Bone was unhappy with his work.
The former minister also repeatedly pressurised the complainant to give him massages in the office.
Most read in The Sun
Mr Bone was appointed Leader of the Commons by Boris Johnson in July 2022 and served until Liz Truss took over as PM in September the same year.
Today he said the Panel’s investigation into his behaviour was “flawed and procedurally unfair”.
The Bone report comes as Rishi Sunak faces defeat in two showdown by-elections this Thursday.
In Tamworth constituents will vote to replace disgraced ex-Deputy Chief Whip Chris Pincher – who The Sun exposed had groped two men at a private members’ club.
In Mid Bedfordshire voters will take to the ballots to replace Boris Johnson’s top lieutenant Nadine Dorries, who stood down in protest at the ex-PM’s removal from No10.
Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
