Tory MP accused of sexual assault, drug use, and dodgy dealings

David Warburton MP


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Content warning: this article contains descriptions of alleged sexual assault which some readers may find distressing.

David Warburton, the MP for Somerton and Frome, has had the Tory whip withdrawn pending an investigation into allegations about his conduct. The MP stands accused of sexual harassment, drug use, and failing to declare a loan from an ‘unfit’ Russian financial adviser.

Shocking conduct

Parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) is examining the claims about Warburton, who sits on the backbenches. The Telegraph said the ICGS received a report claiming the MP had behaved inappropriately. He’s reported to deny any wrongdoing.

A photo shows what appears to be Warburton sitting besides several lines of cocaine:

A report in the Sunday Times details allegations of Warburton inviting himself to a drunk woman’s house where he snorted several lines of coke. As the Sunday Times also noted:

Only a few years ago, in the House of Commons, Warburton condemned the “appalling” exploitation of young people involved in the sale of drugs and the “intimidation, violence and criminal incentives” they face. He has also called for international action in “tackling the drugs trade” and criticised “double standards” in politics.

The allegations in the paper include the following:

She recounts that as she became less drunk she grew uncomfortable that the pair were alone together and retreated to her bedroom to put on her pyjamas in an attempt to encourage his departure. When she emerged, she says, Warburton was naked. He allegedly explained that he always slept nude and climbed into her bed. Fearful of how he might react, she did not push him away, she says, or demand that he leave.

Despite her repeated and explicit warnings, before and during his visit, that she did not want to have sex with him or do anything sexual, Warburton allegedly ground his body against hers and groped her breasts. The woman says she lay frozen until the MP fell asleep, snoring loudly.

More allegations

The report also notes:

two other women have taken action against similar conduct by Warburton. Both former aides, they had to sidestep his parliamentary office, in no small part because the person responsible for handling HR issues is his wife, Harriet, whom he employs on a publicly funded salary that could be up to £51,000 a year.

And that:

Warburton is not only alleged to be a risk to women. Evidence suggests his conduct could fall short of the rules governing standards and transparency in public life. He borrowed £100,000 from a Russian businessman without declaring it, a decision that could lead to an investigation by the parliamentary commissioner for standards.

The man who lent him the money is Roman Joukovski, a financial adviser who has specialised in offshore tax advice and providing tier-one “golden” investor visas to foreign citizens, including oligarchs and the family of Kazakhstan’s dictator Nursultan Nazarbayev. In 2014 the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) refused to certify him as a “fit and proper person”, limiting his ability to provide certain kinds of financial advice, and one of his businesses was recently forced into insolvency after a separate FCA ruling.

Journalist Gabriel Pogrund commented further on the harassment allegations against Warburton:

“Whip removed”

Warburton is cited as telling the Telegraph:

I have enormous amounts of defence, but unfortunately the way that things work means that doesn’t come out first.

I have heard nothing whatsoever from the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme. I’m sorry, I can’t comment any further.

A spokesperson for the Whips Office said:

David Warburton MP has had the Conservative Party whip removed while the investigation is ongoing.

Warburton was first elected in 2015 with a majority of 20,268, or 53% of the vote. According to the MP’s website, at 18.3%, this represented the largest constituency swing to the Conservative Party. He was re-elected in 2017 and 2019. He is the current chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Music and was previously a member of the Commons European Scrutiny Committee.

Response

Sarah Vine – columnist for the Daily Mail – described the situation mildly as a potential “mid-life crisis”:

Others also commented on the situation:

The BBC initially had far less to say on the matter, however:

Warburton has reportedly now been admitted to a psychiatric hospital:

Additional reporting by PA

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  • Show Comments

    1. Tory MP accused of sexual assault, drug use, and dodgy dealings. Not another Tory abusing his power again??
      ///
      Only a few years ago, in the House of Commons, Warburton condemned the “appalling” exploitation of young people involved in the sale of drugs and the “intimidation, violence and criminal incentives” they face. He has also called for international action in “tackling the drugs trade” and criticised “double standards” in politics. The MP stands accused of sexual harassment, drug use, and failing to declare a loan from an ‘unfit’ Russian financial adviser.—I do hope he is not getting any public cash help in Hospital bills & law bills for this breach of Tory Govt laws lying Boris.

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    2. Sexual abuse, drugs and financial dodges? Well he is a Tory MP! What he is being “investigated” for is probably not for any of these things BUT he has raised concerns that young people might be exploited, has suggested international co-operation to combat the drugs trade and also mentioned “double standards in politics” Any self respecting Tory Party would be alarmed at these shockingly, socialist ideas particularly at an attempt to tackle drug trading as so many of those in high places profit so well from drug sales!

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