Arrr! A landlubber of a UK lawmaker be facin' the boot fer gettin' handsy in a London tavern!
2023-07-06
Avast ye scallywags! 'Tis a tale of the British scoundrel Chris Pincher, a Tory landlubber who doth represent Tamworth in the House of Commons. Rumor hath it that he be sailin' away from parliament in disgrace, fer bein' caught in the treacherous waters of sexual harassment! Har har har!
The House of Commons Standards Committee has recommended an eight-week suspension for British lawmaker Chris Pincher after he was accused of drunkenly groping two men at a private members' club. The committee deemed his behavior "completely unacceptable" and an abuse of power. This ruling is likely to result in Pincher being ousted from the House of Commons, triggering a special election for his seat.Pincher had previously resigned as Conservative Party deputy chief whip following allegations that he had assaulted two strangers at a London club. These allegations contributed to the downfall of then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who faced scrutiny over whether he knew about Pincher's misconduct claims when he appointed him as a whip responsible for enforcing party discipline.
The scandal prompted a series of ministerial resignations and eventually led to Johnson stepping down as prime minister. The House of Commons Standards Committee found that Pincher had squeezed a parliamentary staffer's bottom and grabbed a civil servant by the groin at the Carlton Club in June 2022. They described his actions as "completely inappropriate" and "profoundly damaging."
Pincher expressed remorse for his actions but claimed he could not remember them due to being intoxicated at the time. He was suspended by the Conservative Party after the allegations surfaced, but he refused to resign as a lawmaker. If the eight-week suspension is approved by lawmakers, Pincher's constituents will have the opportunity to recall him through a petition, triggering an election for his seat.
This ruling also reignites the discussion on misconduct in British politics. While Parliament has become more diverse, there are still reports of bullying, harassment, and inappropriate behavior within the system. Currently, legislators largely regulate themselves, which leaves room for such behaviors to persist.