Rishi Sunak facing fresh by-election headache as another Tory MP set for suspension over 'completely inappropriate' conduct

Should Parliament back the watchdog's recommendation to suspend Pincher for ten days or more, this would trigger a recall petition in his Tamworth constituency.

Should 10% of voters sign this petition, then a by-election will be launched.

Sunak is already facing three by-elections on 20 July following the resignations of Boris Johnson, Nigel Adams and David Warburton last month, with a potential fourth should Nadine Dorries follow through with her plans to step down.

An investigation was launched into Chris Pincher MP last October to assess whether the former whip's actions had caused "significant damage to the reputation of the House".

Pincher resigned as an MP on 30 June 2022 after saying he had "drunk far too much" and "embarrassed myself and other people" at the Carlton Club the night before.

The report said: "We have found above that Mr Pincher groped [two people] ... and that this was unwanted, inappropriate, and upsetting."

The report stated that Pincher approached one of the complainants in the bar area of the Carlton Club and grabbed his forearm, holding it for an extended period of time until the complainant removed Pincher's arm.

The complainant is said to have later removed Pincher's arm from stroking his neck and from squeezing his bottom.

Another individual told the committee that Pincher bought him and the rest of a group a round of drinks,. before touching the witnesses bottom and squeezing his testicles.

The committee said this act was witnessed by others at the club.

Though Pincher declined to be interviewed in person by the committee, the MP did push back against the allegations through written evidence.

Pincher accepts his actions damaged his reputation and the government's, but refuses to accept that his behaviour tarnished the reputation of the House of Commons.

The former duty chief of staff took aim at the investigation itself, citing "inconsistencies, anomalies and gaps in the evidence.”

The hangover of the incident eventually led to the downfall of Boris Johnson, as it became clear that the then Prime Minister was aware of an investigation into Pincher's conduct three years before, yet still appointed him to a role involving MPs' welfare.

Chris Pincher has already stated his intention to stand down at the next election.

On Pincher's actions, the committee report stated: "It involves behaviour that by any standards was shocking, deeply inappropriate, and adversely impacted two unsuspecting individuals who had no expectation that they would be subjected to such behaviour.

"Further, it was conduct that risks advancing a misplaced public perception that Members of Parliament do not have to abide by normal standards of behaviour and can commit acts of misconduct with impunity."

It added: "Sexual misconduct of this nature, by a serving senior Member of the House in such a situation, also involves an abuse of power.

"Mr Pincher was the Government Deputy Chief Whip at the time and therefore in a position of significant power and authority."

Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader, responded to the Chris Pincher report: "Chris Pincher’s actions are shocking. But what’s even worse is the way the Conservative Party protected him - even promoting him despite a previous investigation into his conduct.

"The British people deserve so much better than 13 years of Tory chaos and sleaze.

"Rishi Sunak has been too weak to act against Chris Pincher because he’s too weak to lead a Conservative Party which is too divided to govern the country.

"And it is working people who are paying the price with a cost-of-living crisis.

"Chris Pincher should now do the decent thing and resign as an MP. The people of Tamworth and the surrounding villages deserve more from their parliamentary representative."