The UK's ruling Labour Party has suspended MP Dan Norris following his arrest on suspicion of serious sexual offences, including rape and child abduction.

On April 5, Labour confirmed that Norris, 65, was immediately suspended after his arrest by the Avon and Somerset Police, who reported that he was taken into custody on Friday. According to the police, most of the alleged offenses took place in the 2000s, although one rape allegation stems from more recent events in the 2020s.

A spokesperson for the Labour Party stated, “We cannot comment further while the police investigation is ongoing.” Norris represents the North East Somerset and Hanham constituency and won his parliamentary seat in 2024 by defeating Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg. He has also served as the Mayor of the West of England since 2021 but has announced he will not seek re-election.

The police investigation is being led by Operation Bluestone, which focuses on serious sexual assault cases. As part of their statement, Avon and Somerset Police mentioned that they initially received a referral in December 2024 regarding non-recent child sex offenses involving a girl. They confirmed that the individual arrested has been released on conditional bail as the investigation continues.

Norris’s previous political experience includes a stint as a junior minister under former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, highlighting a career spanning over two decades. The Labour suspension implies that he will not be able to serve in the Commons while these serious allegations are pending investigation. Source, BBC.