‘Fun, no strings?’: Tory MP Rob Roberts slapped on wrist after party probe into inappropriate behaviour

Conservatives will take no further action after he sent messages to 21-year-old intern suggesting they ‘fool around’

Rob Roberts (House of Commons)

A Tory MP accused of multiple allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards parliamentary staff has been “strongly rebuked” by the party – but will face no further action.

Rob Roberts, who represents Delyn in North Wales, sent WhatsApp messages to a 21-year-old intern asking her for “no strings” fun.

In one exchange, when she said tried to fend off the advances by saying she was having a “really, really bad mental health day”, he replied: “I was just thinking about fun times, maybe if you thought of them too it might help you.”

In another, he told her she had “lovely legs”. In a third, he suggested she visit him in London to “fool around”.

His conduct – which also included repeatedly asking a male aide out – was called “unacceptable” following a Conservative Party probe and he was ordered to undergo “safeguarding training”.

But the female intern at the centre of the scandal said the 41-year-old had “gotten away” with his actions.

"It's not one incident but multiple and he's a threat to our safety,” she told BBC Wales, adding it brought "the morals and values of the Conservative Party under scrutiny if they are unwilling to stand up against sexual harassment and stand on the side of women, especially in the current climate."

She claimed that "at no point" was she contacted as part of the party’s investigation which had been launched after a third-party complaint.

The Conservatives said the incidents had been examined, in line with their code of conduct, by a panel chaired by an independent QC.

In a statement, the party said: "The investigation into Rob Roberts has concluded.

"Rob Roberts' conduct was found to be unacceptable under the party's code of conduct and he has been strongly rebuked. Mr Roberts has apologised.”

The former financial planner, who won his seat in the 2019 general election, has not commented on the results of the probe.

He remains under investigation by the office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.