It is less than a fortnight since the Runcorn by-election, caused by the resignation of Mike Amesbury for punching a constituent. And today, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced that Tory MP Patrick Spencer has been charged with two counts of sexual assault. The charges follow two alleged incidents involving two separate women at the Groucho Club in central London in August 2023, the CPS said.
Spencer – who is the Tory MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich – will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday. He was first elected in July last year and was widely-tipped as one of the rising stars of his intake. The Metropolitan Police said the 37-year-old was charged after attending a voluntary interview at a London police station on 13 March.
Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS special crime and counter terrorism division, said:
Following a review of the evidence provided by the Metropolitan Police Service, we have authorised two counts of sexual assault against Patrick Spencer MP. The charges follow two alleged incidents involving two separate women at the Groucho Club in central London in August 2023. The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against this defendant are now active and that he has the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.
Spencer was first elected to Parliament last year with a majority of 4,290. Following the news that he has been charged, a Conservative party spokesman confirmed that the party has now removed the whip.
