Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Lawmaker's removal from parliament triggers new electoral test for Sunak

Peter Bone was suspended from parliament for six weeks amid allegations of bullying and sexual misconduct

Lawmaker's removal from parliament triggers new electoral test for Sunak

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak encounters another challenging vote to fill a vacant parliamentary seat following the removal of a lawmaker on Tuesday (19). The lawmaker was ousted amid allegations of bullying an employee and engaging in sexual misconduct.

A parliamentary watchdog found that Peter Bone, who had been a member of parliament for almost two decades, had harassed and bullied a staff member and exposed his genitals.


A petition that closed on Tuesday to remove him had the backing of 13.2% of Bone's constituency, more than the 10% required, meaning a by-election must now be held.

Sunak's governing Conservative Party will face its seventh by-election since the beginning of July. The Conservatives have lost five of those and only held one.

Bone, who was suspended from parliament for six weeks and currently sits as an independent, could run as a candidate in that by-election, but not for the Conservatives.

He had a majority of more than 18,500 at the last national vote in 2019.

The Independent Expert Panel found that Bone committed "many varied acts" of bullying and one act of sexual misconduct against a staff member in 2012 and 2013.

Bone verbally humiliated the former employee and threw pens and office equipment at him, both of which amounted to bullying, the panel found.

The parliamentary commissioner found that Bone committed sexual misconduct by indecently exposing "his genitals close to the complainant's face" on an overseas work trip, first in the bathroom and then in the bedroom of a hotel room.

In response to the result of the petition, Bone acknowledged that there will be a by-election early next year and said the allegations were "untrue and without foundation."

"I will have more to say on these matters in the new year," Bone said in statement posted on X.

(Reuters)

More For You

India and Britain brace for impact of Trump tariff threat

India lowers duties on high-end motorcycles to 30 per cent

India and Britain brace for impact of Trump tariff threat

INDIA does not want to give any signal that it is protectionist, the top bureaucrat in the finance ministry said, after slashing import duties on high-end motorcycles, amid US president Donald Trump’s moves on tariffs.

Trump has ignited a trade war with sweeping tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China. None were aimed at India, although Trump had called it a tariff abuser during his election campaign last year.

Keep ReadingShow less
Nottingham-attacks

Calocane killed university students Grace O'Malley-Kumar and Barnaby Webber, along with school caretaker Ian Coates, on 13 June 2023. (Photo: Getty Images)

Report finds Valdo Calocane rejected medication before Nottingham killings

AN INDEPENDENT investigation into the mental health care of Valdo Calocane, who killed three people in Nottingham in June 2023, has found that he was not forced to take injectable antipsychotic medication because he disliked needles.

The full report was released by NHS England following pressure from the victims' families.

Keep ReadingShow less
Cohesion and anti-racism: Two sides of the same coin

Access to opportunities can affect attitudes to immigration across Britain

Cohesion and anti-racism: Two sides of the same coin

SIX months have passed since the evil murders in Southport triggered six days of senseless violence.

Rioters terrified Muslim worshippers at the town’s mosque, tried to burn asylum seekers alive at a Rotherham hotel, and spread fear among ethnic minorities across the country by posting targets for a pogrom of future violence.

Keep ReadingShow less
aga-khan-reuters-lead

A long-time friend of the late Queen Elizabeth, Aga Khan IV was appointed KBE in 2004. (Photo: Reuters)

Aga Khan IV: Bridging faith, philanthropy, and development

HIS HIGHNESS Prince Karim al-Husseini, known as the Aga Khan, led the Ismaili Muslim community for nearly seven decades while building one of the world’s largest private development networks.

As the 49th hereditary imam of the Ismaili sect of Shia Islam, he combined religious leadership with extensive philanthropic efforts across Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America.

Keep ReadingShow less
Kylie Minogue marks 20 years since cancer diagnosis with heartfelt World Cancer Day message

Kylie Minogue shares a heartfelt message on World Cancer Day, inspiring awareness and resilience

Getty Images

Kylie Minogue marks 20 years since cancer diagnosis with heartfelt World Cancer Day message

“February 4 is World Cancer Day,” she wrote. “I’m sending all my love and support to anyone and everyone affected by cancer and want to offer a gentle reminder… If you or anyone you know has concerns, make an appointment to see your healthcare provider. And if it’s time for your check-ups, you know what to do!” She signed off with a heart emoji and her signature “X.”

Minogue’s journey with cancer began in May 2005 when she was diagnosed at 36. Just days later, she underwent a lumpectomy and began chemotherapy, which she later described as “experiencing a nuclear bomb.” Though declared cancer-free in 2006, she has spoken openly about the huge impact of the experience.

Keep ReadingShow less