The United Kingdom’s ruling Labour Party has suspended Member of Parliament (MP) Dan Norris after he was arrested on suspicion of sexual offences, including rape and child abduction.
According to the police, a man in his 60s was arrested on Friday in connection with several alleged offences, including sexual offences against a girl, child abduction, and misconduct in a public office. The police confirmed that while most of the alleged incidents occurred in the 2000s, investigations are also underway into a more recent allegation of rape from the 2020s.
In response to the arrest, the Labour Party issued a statement confirming that Norris, who represents North East Somerset and Hanham in the southwest of England, was immediately suspended. “Dan Norris MP was immediately suspended by the Labour Party upon being informed of his arrest. We cannot comment further while the police investigation is ongoing,” a party spokesperson said.
Norris, 65, made headlines in 2024 when he won the parliamentary seat, defeating prominent Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg. He had previously served as a junior minister under former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
As the investigation continues, the Labour Party has refrained from further comment, awaiting developments.