Tory MP Peter Bone Suspended Over Bullying, Sexual Misconduct Allegations

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Facts

  • British Conservative MP Peter Bone has been recommended for a six-week suspension due to allegations that he hit, verbally abused, and put his bare private parts in the face of a male staffer over a three-month period in late 2012.1
  • Parliament's Independent Expert Panel (IEP) wrote that Bone 'committed many varied acts of bullying' against the staffer in 2012 and 2013 — including 'repeatedly' pressuring him to give him massages in the office — and 'one act of sexual misconduct' when he exposed himself in the hotel during a trip to Madrid.2
  • Furthermore, the report found that Bone 'verbally belittled, ridiculed, abused and humiliated' the staffer and 'repeatedly physically struck and threw things' at him, including hitting him with his hand or an object such as a pencil or a rolled-up document.3
  • Besides specific allegations of abusive behavior, the report called it 'remarkable' that Bone 'should think it appropriate [to be] sharing a bedroom and bathroom with his employee.' Regarding the hotel incident, the IEP said the staffer was 'trapped' and didn't know 'what was going to happen next.'4
  • The allegations were brought to then-Prime Minister David Cameron in 2015. they were later investigated by the party in 2017, after the complaint was brought to then-Prime Minister Theresa May. The alleged victim took the case to the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) in 2021, when it still hadn't been resolved.4
  • Bone appealed the recommendation — denying that any of the allegations ever took place — but it was rejected by the panel. If parliament upholds the suspension, Bone may face a recall petition if 10% of his constituents in Wellingborough support initiation of a byelection.1

Sources: 1The Guardian, 2Sky News, 3BBC News and 4The Telegraph.

Narratives

  • Left narrative, as provided by BNN Breaking. After years of filing complaints, it took an independent panel reviewing these heinous allegations to hold Bone to account. These are not vague accusations from a disgruntled employee, but rather gut-wrenching descriptions of what a young staffer had to endure at the command of his abusive superior. Two Tory prime minister's were incapable of taking this seriously — the public deserves to make an informed choice about who they want representing them in government.
  • Right narrative, as provided by The Times. While it's reasonable to be outraged by these allegations, it's unfair to claim that conservatives brushed the issue under the rug. The complainant withdrew his original accusation before it could be processed, which is why the government couldn't pursue an investigation or subsequent punishment. As is clear from the suspension and potential recall vote, the government is taking these allegations seriously under Tory leadership.