UK Labour MP suspended after being arrested on suspicion of rape and child sex offences

The UK Labour Party has suspended MP Dan Norris after "being informed of his arrest", a party spokesperson said in a statement.

Norris, the Mayor of the West of England since 2021 and the MP for North East Somerset and Hanham, has been arrested on suspicion of rape and child sex offences after police searched his constituency home on Friday.

According to reports, The Labour Party was informed on Friday evening, upon which the party immediately suspended Norris and withdrew his Commons whip.

A Labour Party spokesperson stated: "Dan Norris MP was immediately suspended by the Labour Party upon being informed of his arrest. We cannot comment further while the police investigation is ongoing."

Police revealed its investigation centres around historic claims made by a girl in the 2000s.

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson reported: "In December 2024, we received a referral from another police force relating to alleged non-recent child sex offences having been committed against a girl

"Most of the offences are alleged to have occurred in the 2000s, but we're also investigating an alleged offence of rape from the 2020s."

A dedicated rape and serious sexual assault investigation team, Operation Bluestone, is continuing the probe, reports the Mirror.

As per the police spokesperson: "The victim is being supported and given access to any specialist help or support she needs.

"A man, aged in his sixties, was arrested on Friday on suspicion of sexual offences against a girl (under the Sexual Offences Act 1956), rape (under the Sexual Offences Act 2003), child abduction and misconduct in a public office.

"He's been released on conditional bail for enquiries to continue. This is an active and sensitive investigation, so we'd respectfully ask people not to speculate on the circumstances so our enquiries can continue unhindered."

Norris was elected as the MP for North East Somerset and Hanham in 2024, defeating the Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg.

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