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| Suffolk MP Patrick Spencer is charged with two sexual assaults | Suffolk MP Patrick Spencer is charged with two sexual assaults |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Patrick Spencer will appear in court next month | Patrick Spencer will appear in court next month |
| An MP has been charged with two counts of sexual assault that allegedly took place at London's Groucho Club, the Metropolitan Police have said. | An MP has been charged with two counts of sexual assault that allegedly took place at London's Groucho Club, the Metropolitan Police have said. |
| Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP Patrick Spencer is accused of two attacks on two separate women in August 2023 - before he was elected. | Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP Patrick Spencer is accused of two attacks on two separate women in August 2023 - before he was elected. |
| The 37-year-old, who became a Conservative MP at the 2024 general election, will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 16 June. | |
| Mr Spencer's lawyers say he "categorically denies the charges" against him and "will defend the allegations robustly in court". | Mr Spencer's lawyers say he "categorically denies the charges" against him and "will defend the allegations robustly in court". |
| The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it had authorised charges relating to "two alleged incidents involving two separate women" at the private members' club. | The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it had authorised charges relating to "two alleged incidents involving two separate women" at the private members' club. |
| "On 13 March 2025, a man attended a voluntary interview at a London police station," the Met Police said. | "On 13 March 2025, a man attended a voluntary interview at a London police station," the Met Police said. |
| "Patrick Spencer has since been charged with two counts of sexual assault and will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday, 16 June." | "Patrick Spencer has since been charged with two counts of sexual assault and will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday, 16 June." |
| 'Evidence review' | 'Evidence review' |
| Frank Ferguson, head of the special crime and counter terrorism division at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), 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. | Frank Ferguson, head of the special crime and counter terrorism division at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), 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 charges follow two alleged incidents involving two separate women at the Groucho Club in central London in August 2023." |
| The Groucho is a private members' club in Soho's Dean Street. It opened in 1985 and became a well-known haunt of celebrities and media figures. | The Groucho is a private members' club in Soho's Dean Street. It opened in 1985 and became a well-known haunt of celebrities and media figures. |
| On his website, Spencer says he lives in Suffolk with his family. | On his website, Spencer says he lives in Suffolk with his family. |
| He was not an MP at the time of the alleged attacks. | |
| A Conservative Party spokesman said Spencer had been suspended from the party following the news of the charges. He is now listed as an independent on the UK Parliament website. | |
| The spokesman said in a statement that the Conservative Party "believes in integrity and high standards". | |
| "We have taken immediate action," he added. | "We have taken immediate action," he added. |
| "Patrick Spencer MP has been suspended from the Conservative Party, and the whip withdrawn, with immediate effect. | "Patrick Spencer MP has been suspended from the Conservative Party, and the whip withdrawn, with immediate effect. |
| "The Conservative Party cannot comment further on an ongoing legal case." | "The Conservative Party cannot comment further on an ongoing legal case." |
| It is understood that Spencer was asked not to attend the parliamentary estate by the Tories' chief whip while police carried out their investigation. | It is understood that Spencer was asked not to attend the parliamentary estate by the Tories' chief whip while police carried out their investigation. |
| MPs face being barred from attending Parliament if they are arrested for serious sexual or violent offences after changes last year. | MPs face being barred from attending Parliament if they are arrested for serious sexual or violent offences after changes last year. |
| A risk assessment panel appointed by Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle considers cases. | A risk assessment panel appointed by Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle considers cases. |
| It can decide on a range of measures including exclusion from the parliamentary estate and a ban on Commons-funded travel, although its conclusions are kept confidential. | It can decide on a range of measures including exclusion from the parliamentary estate and a ban on Commons-funded travel, although its conclusions are kept confidential. |
| 'Moral probity' | 'Moral probity' |
| Spencer was elected as the MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich in July 2024 with a majority of 4,290. | Spencer was elected as the MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich in July 2024 with a majority of 4,290. |
| Before he entered the Commons, he worked in finance for the private equity firm IPGL, a company chaired by his father, former Conservative Party treasurer Lord Michael Spencer. | Before he entered the Commons, he worked in finance for the private equity firm IPGL, a company chaired by his father, former Conservative Party treasurer Lord Michael Spencer. |
| He later took a job at the Centre for Social Justice think tank and then became a senior adviser at the Department for Education. | He later took a job at the Centre for Social Justice think tank and then became a senior adviser at the Department for Education. |
| Spencer made his maiden speech in July during a debate on the MPs' code of conduct relating to second jobs. | Spencer made his maiden speech in July during a debate on the MPs' code of conduct relating to second jobs. |
| He said then that the "most important thing to the people across my constituency" was "restoring a sense of moral probity and public spiritedness to our political system". | He said then that the "most important thing to the people across my constituency" was "restoring a sense of moral probity and public spiritedness to our political system". |