Tory MP Chris Pincher has lost his appeal against an eight-week suspension from the Commons following groping allegations made against him.
The Commons Standards Committee announced the sanction in July following an investigation into the claims and whether the former deputy chief whip caused “significant damage to the reputation of the House” – a breach of the members’ code.
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Mr Pincher – who resigned from Boris Johnson’s government over the allegations last summer – did not appeal against the breach, but argued to the Independent Expert Panel (IEP) that the punishment was disproportionate.
But in today’s report, the IEP said his arguments were “misconceived or erroneous”, adding: “The sanction is far from being arbitrary or disproportionate.”
Mr Pincher resigned as deputy chief whip in June 2022 after reports he had he groped two men while drinking at the Carlton Club in central London, and was later suspended by the Conservative Party.
His departure is touted by many as the reason for Mr Johnson’s exit from Downing Street, as numerous ministers turned against him after reports the then-PM knew about other claims relating to Mr Pincher’s behaviour.
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An investigation by Commons Standards Committee gave details of the Carlton Club allegations against the Tamworth MP, with a House of Lords employee saying Mr Pincher had stroked his neck and squeezed his bottom.
The second complainant – a civil servant – said he touched his bottom before moving his hand to touch and squeeze his testicles.
The watchdog said Mr Pincher’s conduct had been “completely inappropriate, profoundly damaging to the individuals concerned, and represented an abuse of power”, and that his actions would “significantly impact public perception of the House and its members”.
As a result, it recommended the hefty suspension, which is enough to trigger a recall petition in his constituency – and could in turn lead to a by-election.
Mr Pincher told the investigation that he did not remember the events that took place that evening, but apologised to all parties involved.
However, he confirmed in July that he would appeal the sanction, claiming the incidents had happened when he was in the club in a personal capacity and denied his behaviour had caused significant damage to the reputation of the House and its members.
He also claimed there were “inconsistencies, anomalies and gaps in the evidence” which he argued “don’t present a complete picture”.
