Tory MP Chris Pincher should be suspended for 8 weeks, report finds

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Conservative MP Chris Pincher should be suspended from the House of Commons for eight weeks, according to a damning report that opens the way to a new parliamentary by-election challenge for the government.

Pincher, who was accused of groping two men at the private Carlton Club in Piccadilly last June, caused significant lasting damage to the reputation of the House of Commons, the report, by the Commons’ Committee on Standards, said on Thursday.

Since the committee recommended a suspension of more than 10 days, a recall petition will be submitted in Pincher’s constituency of Tamworth, Staffordshire, and if 10 per cent of constituents sign it he will have to contest a by-election.

Pincher won the seat in 2019 with a 20,000 majority.

The accusations against Pincher, who was deputy chief whip at the time, ultimately led to the departure as prime minister of Boris Johnson, who had been aware of previous allegations against him.

The two victims reported that Pincher touched them inappropriately at the Carlton club in incidents that affected their health and wellbeing, according to the committee’s report.

Rishi Sunak’s government is currently facing four other by-elections, due to the resignation of Conservative MPs.

The by-elections pose a challenge to the government, which is lagging Labour in the polls and struggling with the consequences of Britain’s cost of living crisis and rising interest rates.