Rishi Sunak faces ANOTHER by-election as Chris Pincher resigns
Rishi Sunak is facing another by election test in a safe Conservative seat with the resignation of former deputy chief whip Chris Pincher today
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Rishi Sunak is facing another by election test in a safe Conservative seat with the resignation of former deputy chief whip Chris Pincher today.
Pincher has today written to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt formally resigning as MP for Tamworth, GB News can reveal.
He lost an appeal against an eight week suspension from the Commons for groping two men at a Mayfair private members’ club.
MPs were expected to vote shortly on whether to approve the punishment.
In its report, Parliament's conduct watchdog said the former Conservative deputy chief whip's behaviour amounted to an abuse of power.
Pincher lost an appeal against an eight week suspension from the Commons
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In a statement to GB News Pincher said: "I have said already that I will not stand at the next General Election.
"However, following the Independent Expert Panel's decision I wanted to talk to my office team and family.
"I do not want my constituents to be put to further uncertainty, and so in consequence I have made arrangements to resign and leave the Commons.
"Tamworth is a wonderful place and it has been an honour to represent its people. I shall make no further comment at this time."
Pincher holds a rock solid majority of 19,634 in Tamworth but the seat was held by Labour until 2010.
Rishi Sunak also faces a by-election in Mid Bedfordshire, after Nadine Dorries officially resigned last month.
It will take place in October, meaning Sunak may have two crunch by-elections on his hands before the year is out.
The House of Commons Committee of Standards initially recommended Pincher's suspension before the Summer recess, but he appealled the decision saying it was "disproportionate".
The MP for Tamworth claimed the incidents took place while he was off duty and therefore acting in a personal capacity.
Rishi Sunak also faces a by-election in Mid Bedfordshire, after Nadine Dorries officially resigned last week.
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His appeal was dismissed.
An independent expert panel (IEP) found that the original committee's investigation “approached this task properly, with the correct considerations in mind”.
Science Minister Michelle Donelan described the allegation made against Chris Pincher MP as "awful", saying it was a "big distraction" in politics.
She told GB News: “We of course want to ensure that every constituent across the country gets the very best service from their members of Parliament.
“This has been a big distraction in terms of British politics, this story, throughout the whole period, hasn't it? I'm sure we can all agree on that.
“And the things that took place in regard to this individual was certainly not acceptable by any member of Parliament and I don't condone them whatsoever.”
Asked if the Conservative Party has a problem with sexual misconduct, she said: “Absolutely not. This is not a party political issue. And nor should it be an issue in any workplace. You wouldn't expect if you worked in any place to experience these types of things.
“It’s important that we have a process in place to deal with them and we also set the tone for the rest of society and lead by example, but my party certainly does not have a problem.
“These are isolated but very, very awful incidents that we should not ever expect to take place in the mother of Parliaments.”