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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Rachael Burford

Victims of 'serial rapist' Tory MP 'should go to police', says Prime Minister Rishi Sunak

The Prime Minister has described allegations that a Tory MP is a serial rapist as "very serious" and urged anyone with evidence to contact police.

During a visit to Bacton Gas Terminal in Norfolk on Monday, Rishi Sunak said: "These are very serious, anonymous allegations.

"It may be that they allude to something that is already the subject of a live police investigation, so I hope you understand it wouldn't be right for me to comment on that further specifically.

"More broadly the Conservative Party has robust independent complaint procedures in place, but I would say to anybody who has information or evidence about any criminal acts to of course talk to police, that's the right course of action."

It follows reports that former Conservative Party chairman Sir Jake Berry wrote to police about an MP who had multiple allegations against them.

Sir Jake raised concerns that the politician was allowed to “continue to offend” after the Tory party allegedly paid for the victim to receive support but did not did not investigate, according to the Mail on Sunday.

Energy Minister Claire Coutinho said these were "obviously very serious allegations" as she urged victims to go to police.

"I think the really important thing is that anyone who's been through any kind of assault like that goes to the police so that these things can be properly looked into," she told Times Radio: "These are anonymous allegations. I don't think it's right for politicians to provide a running commentary.

"There may be live police investigation issues, there may be questions related to confidentiality. So I can't comment on the specifics of this case... I would urge them to go to the police."

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden on Sunday denied that the Conservatives covered up the rape allegations.

Sir Jake was chairman of the party during Liz Truss's 49-day premiership last year.

He wrote to police with former chief whip Wendy Morton to express his concerns about claims of sexual assault were handled, the Mail on Sunday reported.

In the letter, published by the newspaper, he said that the matter had been going on for more than two years.

"There may have been five victims of X - who have been subject to a range of offences including multiple rapes," the letter said.

"The failure of others to act has enabled X to continue to offend."

The Conservative Party has declined to comment.

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