Ex-Tory MP Aaron Bell carried out 'brazen and drunken' sexual misconduct in parliament bar, watchdog finds

Former Conservative MP Aaron Bell carried out "brazen and drunken" sexual misconduct in the parliament bar, a watchdog has found.

The former MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme "abused his position of power" by touching a woman "on her left thigh, waist and bottom inappropriately and without her consent" while in one of parliament's bars in December 2023, parliament's standards watchdog found that.

The panel found that had Mr Bell still been an MP, it would have considered suspending him from parliament "for a significant period".

Mr Bell, who did not seek re-election in July and whose seat is now represented by Labour, said he was "disappointed" at the outcome of the investigation but had chosen not to appeal its findings.

"I apologise for any upset caused to the complainant and wish to make it clear that I did not intend to cause any distress," he said in a statement.

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The findings by Daniel Greenberg, the standards commissioner responsible for investigating alleged breaches of the code of conduct for MPs, came after a complaint was filed to parliament's independent complaints and grievance scheme in February 2024.

Mr Greenberg referred the case to the independent expert panel (IEP), which sits above parliament's standards committee, to determine the appropriate sanction.

The IEP sub-panel found there had been a "serious case of sexual misconduct involving an abuse of power" that had had an "enduring impact on the complainant".

It said Mr Bell, who as a government whip was responsible for enforcing party discipline and ensuring their colleagues vote with the government, "abused his position of power over the complainant".

"Not only was he considerably older, but he was also a member of parliament therefore holding a particularly powerful role," the panel found.

It was also highlighted that Mr Bell was an assistant government whip at the time, which it described as a role with "considerable authority" that involved "upholding the highest standards of conduct".

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The panel added: "It does not reduce the seriousness of the conduct that it took place in a bar.

"No matter how the respondent or others may view that environment, it is in the workplace.

"Any member of parliament in that setting remains a person with particular power and authority.

"Indeed, sexual misconduct such as this, which is both brazen and drunken, makes the conduct more serious as the level of threat is increased."

Mr Bell said the investigation was "one of the reasons I chose not to seek re-election at the general election - I have let down the loyal members of my association and thank them for the support they gave me as a member of parliament".

He added: "I would also like to apologise to the people of Newcastle-under-Lyme, whom it was an honour to serve.

"This has been a difficult time for my family, and I would ask that their privacy is respected at this time."