A former Labour minister was arrested on Friday on suspicion of rape and child sex offences. The Sun on Sunday tonight reports that Dan Norris, 65, MP for North East Somerset and Hanham, was arrested on Friday over claims of historic sexual offences against a girl and a rape allegation from the 2020s. Avon and Somerset Police confirmed he had also been held on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Labour has now confirmed that Norris has been suspended from the party and lost the whip in parliament. A party spokesman told the Sun that: ‘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’.
Norris was reportedly arrested and interviewed at a police station near his constituency home before being bailed. Avon and Somerset Police confirmed detectives were carrying out a ‘sensitive’ investigation after the case was referred by a different force.
A spokesman for the force said:
In December 2024, we received a referral from another police force relating to alleged non-recent child sex offences having been committed against a girl. Most of the offences are alleged to have occurred in the 2000s, but we’re also investigating an alleged offence of rape from the 2020s. An investigation, led by officers within Operation Bluestone, our dedicated rape and serious sexual assault investigation team, remains ongoing and at an early stage.
Norris is yet to comment on the allegations at the time of publication.
