Chris Pincher appeals against eight-week Commons suspension | Politics News

Former Tory MP Chris Pincher is appealing an eight-week suspension – recommended after an investigation into groping claims made against him.

The allegations surfaced last summer when the then deputy chief whip was accused of assaulting two guests at the exclusive Carlton Club in London.

He resigned from his post and was later suspended by the Conservative Party.

The parliamentary watchdog launched its investigation in October, looking into whether Mr Pincher’s actions caused “significant damage to the reputation of the House” – a breach of the members’ code.

The Commons Standards Committee published its conclusions last month, saying the MP’s conduct had been “completely inappropriate, profoundly damaging to the individuals concerned, and represented an abuse of power”, and that his actions would “significantly impact public perception of the House and its members”.

It recommended the eight-week suspension, which would likely trigger a by-election in his constituency of Tamworth, and Mr Pincher – who now sits as an independent – had until today to launch an appeal.