MP facing suspension from Parliament for sexual misconduct won’t resign

An MP who is facing a six week suspension from Parliament for sexual misconduct is not going to resign.

Rob Roberts, who represents Delyn, and has lost the Conservative Party whip, has released a statement following the publication of a report into his conduct.

The Labour Party has called for his resignation after the Independent Expert Panel found he breached Parliament’s sexual misconduct policy, and added that he should do so with “immediate effect”.

But the MP said the judgement won’t “alter” his “resolve” to “ensure that the people of Delyn get the assistance they need”.

He also apologised and said that he recognised that his conduct was a “breach of trust” and had been “improper”.

Rob Roberts said: “In the first half of 2020, I was in a particularly challenging place personally and had taken the decision to leave my marriage of 15 years and come out as being gay.

“At around the same time, I asked a male member of Parliamentary staff to dinner in the hope of striking up a personal relationship. I recognise that this breach of trust in the MP-Staff relationship was completely improper and should not have happened.

“I apologised at the time and do so again to the complainant but also to my colleagues, family and most importantly my constituents.

‘Continue’

He added: “I will continue to do my utmost to serve my constituency as I have over the past 18 months since my election, and this judgement will not alter my resolve to ensure that the people of Delyn get the assistance they need with pressing local issues. It is the greatest honour of my life to represent the constituency in which I grew up and have lived my whole life, and I will work tirelessly to restore any faith which has been lost by this ruling.

“I have no further comment to make on the situation and will continue to go about my non-Parliamentary work as before, providing as much assistance and representation to my constituents as I can.”

Anneliese Dodds MP, Labour Party Chair, responding to the publication of the Independent Expert Panel’s report into the conduct of Rob Roberts MP, said: “The report fully upholds the sexual harassment allegations made against Rob Roberts MP. He should therefore resign his seat with immediate effect.

“That such serious and proven abuse doesn’t automatically result in the recall of a sitting Member of Parliament is both absurd and unjust. The Conservative Government cannot dance around gaps in legislation if it is serious about upholding standards in public life.

“That is why we expect the Government to take immediate action – Labour will support efforts to pass emergency legislation or measures to rectify this situation.”