LONDON — Britain’s Labour Party has taken the significant step of suspending one of its Members of Parliament following his arrest due to allegations concerning rape and child sexual offenses. The lawmaker in question, Dan Norris, aged 65, was elected during the previous year’s general election and represents the constituencies of North East Somerset and Hanham. His suspension from the Labour caucus means he remains a sitting member in the House of Commons, albeit without the party’s endorsement.
Apart from his parliamentary roles, Norris holds the position of mayor for the West of England. This regional authority encompasses oversight over planning and transportation matters in areas that include cities such as Bristol and Bath, along with the adjacent countryside. Norris was appointed to this role in 2017, but his tenure is set to conclude following local elections slated for the upcoming May.
In a statement issued over the weekend, the Labour Party confirmed the immediate suspension aligned with the arrest indication. “Dan Norris MP was immediately suspended by the Labour Party upon being informed of his arrest,” the statement conveyed. The party emphasized that further comments could not be made as investigations by law enforcement remain ongoing.
Avon and Somerset Police offered more details on the situation, disclosing that an individual in his 60s was detained on Friday and subsequently released with conditions on bail. It is notable that in England, suspects are typically not publicly identified until formal charges are filed against them.
The arrest follows an inquiry initiated in December 2024 from a referral by another police jurisdiction concerning allegations of historic child sex offenses involving a female victim. The alleged criminal activities reportedly transpired primarily during the 2000s, though there is an ongoing probe into a separate claim of rape from the 2020s.
Reports published by the Sun and the Mail on Sunday brought Norris’s arrest to public attention. Norris previously had a term in the Parliament spanning from 1997 until 2010, having served as an assistant whip under Prime Minister Tony Blair and as a junior minister under Prime Minister Gordon Brown.