UK politics news – live: Union warns parliament not ‘a safe place to work’ amid latest sex assault scandal

Claims of rape and sexual assault lodged against Tory MP span period of two years

Rishi Sunak fails first electoral test as Labour retains Chester seat

A civil service union has warned that Parliament is not a “safe place to work” after a group of Conservative politicians reported a fellow MP to police over allegations they committed rape and a string of sexual assaults.

The backbench MP was reported to the force by a group of Tory MPs, whose claims against the accused span a period of two years, broadcasterTalkTV reports.

The MP is said to be subject to an investigation by an independent law firm. They have not, however, had the Conservative whip removed or been suspended by party chiefs.

Mike Clancy, the general secretary of Prospect union, says: “This MP remains free to visit the House of Commons and interact with staff despite these very serious allegations.

“This highlights yet again that there is no fit-for-purpose process in place to deal with this type of case and make Parliament a safe place to work.”

It comes after the Conservative party suffered its worst election result in Chester since 1832 after Labour retained the seat with an increased share of the vote.

Key Points

• Rishi Sunak backs Tories who reported MP to police over sexual assault and rape claims
• Tory MP reported to police by colleagues over rape and sexual assault allegations
• Matt Hancock to read dyslexia Bill in Parliament today
• Sunak fails first electoral test as Labour retain Chester seat
• New Chester MP says voters think it is 'Labour's turn'
• Racism must be ‘confronted’, says Sunak

[2 December 2022 09:09 · Emily Atkinson]

Tory MP reported to police by colleagues over rape and sexual assault allegations

A senior Conservative MP has been reported to the police over allegations they committed rape and a string of sexual assaults.

The MP was reported to the Metropolitan Police by a group of colleagues, themselves Tory MPs.

The third-party claims span a period of two years and the MPs reported the incidents as a third party, broadcaster TalkTV reports.

Our policy correspondent Jon Stone has more:

[2 December 2022 08:58 · Emily Atkinson]

‘It’s time for a Labour government,’ says Starmer after Chester victory

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said his party’s victory in the City of Chester by-election demonstrates the public is “fed up” with the Tory government.

He tweeted: “Huge congratulations to CllrSDixon (Samantha Dixon) who will be an excellent MP for City of Chester.

“The message to Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government is clear: People are fed up of 12 years of Tory rule and want the change Labour offers.

“It’s time for a Labour government.”

[2 December 2022 08:45 · Emily Atkinson]

Matt Hancock to read dyslexia Bill in Parliament today

Matt Hanock is set to read his dyslexia Bill in Parliament at 11am today, having returned from the I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! jungle.

Taking to Twitter this morning, the MP for West Suffolk said: “Today I’m calling for universal dyslexia screening in every primary school and improved teacher training for dyslexia.

“It is an outrage that only 1 in 5 dyslexic children leave school identified & that teachers do not need training to support dyslexic children.

“This must change.”

[2 December 2022 08:30 · Emily Atkinson]

West not ‘taken on board’ that Ukraine conflict could last for ‘very long time’, says Welby

The Archbishop of Canterbury has said he does not think the West has “taken on board” that the conflict in Ukraine could go on “for a very long time”.

Justin Welby told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I don’t think that the West in general has taken on board and has been led to take on board that this could go on for a very long time.

“We don’t want it to - we hope and pray it doesn’t, but that’s not within our gift. And this is hugely important, that this takeover does not succeed. It’s extremely complex, much too complex to unpack the whole thing in a brief interview, but it must not succeed.

“The West needs, the people of the West need, to realise that the cost of this war, in inflation, in all kinds of difficulties - and there’s much suffering in our own country, in the UK, through that - the costs of this are not short term, we need to be really tough about this.”

[2 December 2022 08:15 · Emily Atkinson]

Cheshire by-election results in full

Suffering its worst election result in Chester since 1832, the Conservative Party took just 22.4 per cent of the votes to Labour’s 61.2 per cent, figures show.

But how did other parties fare? Here is the full break down of the ballot:

[2 December 2022 08:00 · Emily Atkinson]

Justin Welby says Ukraine to need ‘very long term’ support

The Archbishop of Canterbury has said there must be “no way we force peace” in Ukraine.

Justin Welby added that the need for support is going to be “very long term”.

Asked what he learned from his visit to the war-torn country, he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “First of all, the need for solidarity and support for Ukraine.

“And secondly, that there must be no way in which we force peace on Ukraine or they’re put under pressure. Third, that the need for support is going to be very long term.”

Pressed on whether he meant, in some cases, war is the right course, he said: “Peace is always better than war. But there are times when justice demands that there is the defeat of what we call, the Archbishop of York and I called when it started, an evil invasion. And I don’t regret saying that.

“Ukraine is the victim here, we can’t slip back to a 1938 Czechoslovakia, sort of people far away of whom we know little situation. There has to be real resilience.”

[2 December 2022 07:40 · Emily Atkinson]

‘No shocks’ at Chester by-election, says Tory peer

Lord Robert Hayward, a Conservative peer and elections analyst, said there were “no shocks” at the City of Chester by-election.

But he said the Tories will be “relieved” they got more than 20 per cent of the vote.

“I think, generally as expected, no shocks but definite satisfaction for the Labour Party,” he told Sky News.

He added that there is “no question” the Tories have a “real challenge on their hands”.

“But having said that, Rishi comes across to the public at large as managerial,” he said. His ratings are way ahead of the Tory party’s. His ratings which will worry the Labour Party, are on a par with Keir Starmer, depending on which poll you actually look at.

“There are some indications that there are opportunities there for the Tory party. But Rishi has to convince the public at large that he can manage out of this crisis, whichever crisis one’s looking at - and there’s a lot of them.”

[2 December 2022 07:20 · Emily Atkinson]

Watch: Rishi Sunak fails first electoral test as Labour retains Chester seat

[2 December 2022 07:00 · Stuti Mishra]

Why Boris Johnson wants to be an MP

Boris Johnson’s decision to fight for the Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency at the next general election effectively amounts to confirmation that he believes he will at some point return as leader of the Conservative Party, writes Andrew Woodcock.

[2 December 2022 06:30 · Stuti Mishra]

Boris Johnson to stand again in 2024 general election

Boris Johnson has fuelled expectations of another bid to regain the Conservative leadership by confirming he will stand again as an MP at the next general election.

A source close to the former prime minister said he intends to be the Tory candidate in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency at the poll expected in 2024.