Tory MP Peter Bone, 70, faces suspension for bullying and sexual misconduct
Wellingborough MP Peter Bone has denied claims he committed ‘sexual misconduct’ and ‘bullied’ staff.
The Independent Expert Panel (IEP) today published a report which finds that Mr Bone ‘committed many varied acts of bullying and one act of sexual misconduct’ against a member of his staff in 2012 and 2013.
It has recommended that he be suspended from the House for six weeks. A suspension of this length triggers the Recall of MPs Act 2015.
Following an investigation by an independent investigator appointed by the ICGS, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards upheld five allegations of bullying and one of sexual misconduct.
Mr Bone appealed this decision to the IEP. That appeal was dismissed by the IEP sub-panel appointed to consider that case as having raised no substantive grounds.
The sub-panel then determined that Mr Bone should be suspended for six weeks. It stated that: ‘This is a serious case of misconduct. […] The bullying involved violence, shouting and swearing, mocking, belittling and humiliating behaviour, and ostracism. […]
‘This wilful pattern of bullying also included an unwanted incident of sexual misconduct, when the complainant was trapped in a room with the respondent in a hotel in Madrid.
‘This was a deliberate and conscious abuse of power using a sexual mechanism: indecent exposure’
Mr Bone appealed the sanction to a fresh IEP sub-panel. They dismissed his appeal, and confirmed the original decision.
If confirmed by the House the suspension will trigger a recall petition under the Recall of MPs Act 2015.
In a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, Tory MP Peter Bone said: ‘Today the Independent Expert Panel (IEP) has published a report finding me guilty of misconduct.
‘As I have maintained throughout these proceedings, none of the misconduct allegations against me ever took place.
‘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.
‘I am not permitted under the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) process to fully respond to the allegations in public.
‘Nor can I detail my views on the huge inconsistencies and lack of evidence in the allegations, or highlight areas that proved the allegations were factually false.
‘However I can say that the allegations are the only allegations at all made against me throughout my work as an MP and beyond.
‘Witness statements were submitted from ten employees (current and former) of the highest integrity, testifying to the professional, accommodating and friendly place my office is to work. Many others would be prepared to testify the same.
‘I am also firmly of the opinion that on this occasion the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme investigation was flawed, procedurally unfair and didn’t comply with its own rules and regulations.
‘It is my belief that they have operated outside of the powers given to them by Parliament and I am currently discussing with lawyers what action could and should be taken.
‘It has been a great honour and privilege to represent the people of Wellingborough and Rushden for more than 18 years as their Member of Parliament. I will continue to represent them to the best of my ability.’
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