Conservative MP Crispin Blunt has been arrested on suspicion of rape and possession of a controlled substance, it was revealed today, but claims the arrest was ‘unnecessary’ and insists he is ‘confident’ he will not be charged.
Blunt confirmed on social media that he was the ‘prominent Tory MP’ interviewed by police on Thursday evening, stating he had been questioned by police twice.
The 63-year-old former minister claimed that his arrest over the serious charges was “unnecessary” because he “cooperated” with the police.
It followed reports published on Thursday that a ‘prominent’ Conservative MP had been arrested in Horley.
After Blunt identified himself as the man at the center of the allegations, it was reported that the Tory whip had been suspended and he was asked to stay away from Parliament.
Both the Conservative Party and Downing Street declined to comment on the allegations.
The Reigate MP wrote on X, formerly Twitter: ‘It has been reported that an MP was arrested yesterday in connection with an allegation of rape. I confirm that I was an MP.
Crispin Blunt took to social media on Thursday to identify himself as the MP in question
“The fact of the arrest requires formal notification to the Speaker and subsequently to the Chief Whip.
‘I have now been interviewed twice in relation to this incident, the first time three weeks ago when I initially raised concerns about extortion.
‘The second time was earlier this morning under caution after arrest. The arrest was unnecessary as I remain willing to fully cooperate with the investigation which I am confident will end without charges.
“I do not intend to comment further on this matter until the police have completed their investigation.”
Blunt was responsible for prisons and probation at the Ministry of Justice from 2010 to 2012. From 2015 he was also chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee.
He announced in May 2022 that he would step down at the next election.
Police could not say whether the controlled substances were drugs because tests are being conducted.
The Tory Party has refused to comment on his arrest, the latest blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as he faces an uphill battle ahead of next year’s expected election.
But MP Simon Hart has reportedly told Blunt to stay away from Parliament while an investigation is underway.
After Blunt identified himself as the man at the center of the allegations, it was reported that the Tory whip had been suspended and he was asked to stay away from Parliament.
Mr Blunt is the latest in a series of sitting MPs to be arrested on charges of sex crimes.
The father-of-two, who divorced his wife in 2010 to come to terms with his sexuality after revealing he was gay, has been an MP since 1997.
A Surrey Police spokesperson said: “We can confirm that a man was arrested yesterday morning (October 25) on suspicion of rape and possession of a controlled substance.
“He has been released on conditional police bail pending further investigations.”
Former chief Chris Pincher was forced to resign last week after claiming he groped two men in a Tory club with private members.
And yesterday, Peter Bone – a former minister – was suspended from the House of Commons for six weeks for bullying and sexual misconduct against a staff member.
Another unnamed Conservative MP has also been released on bail over sexual assault charges, which he denies.
In a separate case, a Tory MP was arrested in 2020 on suspicion of rape. He was never identified and police took no further action after an investigation.
Sunak’s party is currently behind in the polls and suffered two crushing blows last week when Labor seized the true blue strongholds of Mid Beds and Tamworth, losing huge majorities.
Experts say the results put Sir Keir Starmer firmly on track for number 10 next year. Although by-elections never translate directly, if they were repeated in a general election, the Conservatives would be reduced by more than twenty percentage points to just twenty seats.
According to research by More in Common, the public also appears to be more in favor of elections.
Only 12 percent believe the vote should take place on the latest possible date in January 2025, while 32 percent support May next year.