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Police officers walk past the British Parliament in London
Photo: Kirsty Wigglesworth / dpa
A political row has erupted in the UK over whether to publish the name of a government MP accused of rape.
The MP belongs to Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party.
The deputy is between 50 and 60 years old and was taken into custody on Tuesday, among other things, on allegations of rape and sexual abuse.
He was later released on bail.
Now the opposition Labor Party in particular is outraged that the police are keeping the MP's identity secret.
The public has "a right to the truth," the party said, according to the Times newspaper.
In addition, the Conservatives should exempt the MPs.
Employees in the British Parliament were also critical – and called for the man to be permanently banned from access due to “protective regulations in the workplace”.
According to the London police, the alleged cases of abuse were reported in early 2020 and are said to have taken place in London between 2002 and 2009.
The Tories only want to decide whether to expel the MP from the parliamentary group after the investigation has been completed.
However, the accused was instructed not to enter the parliamentary grounds until then.
"Very, very concerned"
According to the police, the deputy will remain free for the time being until mid-June.
The investigations continued.
Secretary of State Liz Truss was "very, very concerned."
"The police are working on the case, but it is worrying that there are again such appalling allegations against an MP," the Conservative politician told Sky News.
In recent weeks, Tory politicians have repeatedly been the subject of sexual assault and misconduct.
MP Imran Ahmad Khan has been forced to resign after being found guilty of sexually abusing a 15-year-old.
His colleague, Neil Parish, resigned after watching a pornographic film on his cell phone in Parliament.
MP David Warburton has been suspended for allegedly taking cocaine and sexually assaulting several women.
Similar allegations had been made repeatedly before, especially against conservative politicians.
mrc/dpa
