Labour Party takes swift action, suspending Dan Norris, MP for North East Somerset and Hanham, following his arrest under suspicion of rape, child sex offences, and misconduct in public office. This development follows a police raid at Norris’s constituency home on Friday. Norris, a former Labour minister who triumphed over Jacob Rees-Mogg in the last general election, has a history of serving as an MP for Wansdyke from 1997 to 2010 and later became mayor of the West of England in 2021. Additionally, his website highlights his training with NSPCC and his background as a teacher and child protection officer.
According to Avon and Somerset Police, the arrest involved allegations of sexual offences against a girl, as defined by the Sexual Offences Act 1956 and 2003, along with allegations of child abduction and misconduct in public office. The suspect, described as a man in his sixties, was released on conditional bail for further investigations. The police have urged the public to avoid speculation to ensure the ongoing investigation proceeds smoothly.
The police statement detailed that the allegations of child sex offences primarily pertain to incidents that occurred in the 2000s, with an additional allegation of rape from the 2020s. An investigation by Operation Bluestone, a dedicated team focused on rape and serious sexual assault cases, is currently underway and remains in the initial stages. Support is being provided to the victim, ensuring access to any necessary specialist help.
A Labour party spokesperson confirmed that Norris was immediately suspended upon notification of his arrest, with further comments on the matter withheld until the conclusion of the police investigation. Norris has also lost the Labour party whip in the House of Commons. Beyond these allegations, Norris faces additional controversy regarding his chairmanship at the League against Cruel Sports, where he stood accused of victimizing a former employee. He resigned from his position at the charity in May of the previous year.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/apr/05/labour-mp-dan-norris-arrested-over-and-child-abuse-allegations
