Independent Expert Panel orders reinvestigation into complaint against David Warburton
4 July 2023 (updated on 4 July 2023)
The Independent Expert Panel (IEP) has today published a report upholding an appeal by David Warburton and ordered a reinvestigation of a complaint against him under Parliament’s sexual misconduct policy.
Following an independent investigation, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards upheld three allegations of sexual misconduct against Mr Warburton. However, the IEP sub-panel that considered Mr Warburton’s appeal decided that the investigation was materially flawed in ways that affected the Commissioner’s decision, and that his decision was procedurally flawed.
The sub-panel made no findings on the substance of the complaint against Mr Warburton, or his claim that it was fabricated, saying “those remain open questions for the new investigation.” The Panel has not published the sub-panel’s full decision in order to avoid prejudicing the new investigation.
Mr Warburton announced his intention to resign as an MP on Saturday 17 June. The sub-panel reached its decision to allow the appeal and order a reinvestigation on 14 June and was in the process of drafting its written decision when Mr Warburton made his announcement.
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