Chief whip defends lack of action against Tory MP accused of rape

Mark Spencer resists calls to remove whip from ex-minister as police investigate allegation

The chief whip, Mark Spencer, has defended his decision not to take action against an MP who has been arrested on suspicion of rape, after the alleged victim revealed she had complained about abusive behaviour four months earlier.

Pressure is growing on the Conservatives to withdraw the whip from the former minister – suspending him from the parliamentary party – while the police investigation is ongoing, but Spencer indicated he would not do so.

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