MPs who have been arrested for serious sexual or violent offences face being barred from Parliament after the Commons voted to reverse a move to weaken the measures by just one vote.
The House of Commons Commission initially proposed a risk assessment to decide whether an MP should be prevented from attending the parliamentary estate if they were arrested on suspicion of committing a violent or sexual offence.
Revised plans suggested the ban should be enforced at the point of charge.
However, MPs voted 170 to 169 in favour of a proposal from Liberal Democrat, Wendy Chamberlain to default the threshold to an arrest.
MPs who have been arrested for serious sexual or violent offences face being barred from Parliament after the Commons voted to reverse a move to weaken the measures by just one vote
PA
Previously MPs were only banned from Parliament by voluntary arrangements with their own party whips under such circumstances.
Labour’s Jess Phillips, who also pushed exclusion at the point of arrest, wrote on social media: "S**t! We won the vote by one."
Earlier today she told the Commons debate: "Today, just on this one day, I have spoken to two women who were raped by members of this Parliament; that’s a fairly standard day for me."
She added: "Exclusion at the point of charge sends a clear message to victims that not only will we not investigate unless a victim goes to the police but we won’t act unless they’re charged, which happens in less than one per cent of cases. ‘So what’s the point?’ was essentially what this victim said to me."
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Labour former minister Sir Chris Bryant said the move has been "long overdue".
He said: "Parliament should be no different from any other workplace.
"I’m delighted. This is long overdue."
The division list showed eight Conservative MPs voted in favour of the amendment, including former prime minister Theresa May.
MPs voted 170 to 169 in favour of a proposal from Liberal Democrat, Wendy Chamberlain to default the threshold to an arrest
PA
Chamberlain, MP for North East Fife said: "It is not about the guilt or innocence of any individual MP, but about safeguarding.
"It’s really important that Parliament is just as safe as any other workplace and that everyone is held to account by similar rules."
Tory former minister Sir Michael Ellis added that there were constitutional and legal implications to excluding MPs on arrest.
He said: "There is a key principle here, there’s a golden thread that runs through our system that a person must not suffer imposition before guilt has been proven. And it is offensive against the laws of natural justice, and in fact contrary to human rights to do so."
