A re-investigation has been ordered into allegations of sexual misconduct against former Conservative MP David Warburton. The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards recently had upheld three claims of sexual misconduct against him, but the House of Commons Independent Expert Panel (IEP) has now upheld an appeal against that judgment and called for a new investigation.
David Warburton, who resigned as an MP on June 18 after admitting to taking cocaine, welcomed the IEP ruling. The panel found that the initial investigation had not been carried out to a sufficient standard, without passing judgment on the allegations themselves. The questions surrounding the allegations against Warburton remain “open” as the new investigation will be conducted.
The allegations against Mr Warburton included claims of drug use and making unwanted advances towards two women, as reported by The Sunday Times. The Conservative Party suspended him in April 2022 following these claims. While Warburton denied the allegations of sexual misconduct, he admitted to making “very bad choices” regarding cocaine use.
The IEP sub-panel, which considered Warburton’s appeal, concluded that the first investigation was “materially flawed” and criticized the Commissioner’s decision for being “procedurally flawed.” The panel did not provide any findings on the substance of the complaint or Warburton’s counter-allegations, emphasizing that these would be open questions for the new investigation.
A by-election to select a new MP for the Somerton and Frome constituency, previously represented by Mr Warburton, will take place on July 20. The IEP, to ensure fairness, has not published the sub-panel’s full decision in order to avoid prejudicing the upcoming investigation.
The decision to order a reinvestigation was made by the IEP on June 14, and the written decision was being drafted when Mr Warburton resigned from his position The new investigation will be crucial in shedding further light on the allegations and determining the appropriate course of action.
