By-Election Looms After Chris Pincher Loses Commons Suspension Appeal
1 min read
Independent MP Chris Pincher has lost his appeal against an eight-week suspension from Parliament, paving the way for a by-election in his Tamworth seat.
Pincher had the Conservative party whip removed last summer after he was accused of groping two men in a central London club. He was a government whip at the time of the alleged incidents.
In July of this year, the standards committee recommended that Pincher be suspended for eight weeks, having found that his behaviour "represented an abuse of power as he was in a position of authority” and had a "significant impact" on the individuals involved.
Pincher could decide to resign having lost his appeal, which would trigger a by-election.
If he does not, however, then MPs will be asked to vote for a recall petition, which will then be put to voters in Tamworth. If 10% of constituents sign it, a by-election will be triggered.
While the Tory majority in Tamworth is nearly 20,000, Labour will be confident of winning the seat with opinion polls continuing to give the opposition large, double-figure leads over the Conservatives.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is already facing the prospect of a tricky by-election in Mid Bedfordshire after former Cabinet minister Nadine Dorries resigned as its MP.
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