DAN Norris, MP for North East Somerset and Hanham, has been arrested on suspicion of rape and child sex offences.
Mr Norris, who is also West of England Metro Mayor, was arrested on Friday April 4 on suspicion of sexual offences against a girl, rape, child abduction, and misconduct in a public office.
Avon and Somerset Police said most of the offences are alleged to have occurred in the 2000s but it was also investigating an alleged offence of rape in the 2020s.
Mr Norris has been released on conditional bail. Under Labour Party policy, he is not standing for re-election as Metro Mayor in the upcoming election on Thursday May 1. He was immediately suspended by the Labour Party following his arrest.
His election agent, Grant Johnson, a Labour councillor on Bath and North East Somerset Council, said on Sunday April 6: “Yesterday’s announcement in the media of Dan Norris’ arrest and the allegations being made against him have left me shocked and upset.
“The Labour Party has done the right thing in immediately suspending him from the party.
“My thoughts are with all those impacted by this news.”
Staff at the West of England Combined Authority are being offered specialist trauma support.
Helen Godwin, the Labour candidate for West of England Metro Mayor, also said she was “shocked and upset” at the allegations against Mr Norris.
She said: “I’m pleased that the Labour Party took the swift action to immediately suspend him from the party. I am thinking about everyone affected by this news and urge people to reach out to relevant organisations if they need support.”
The full list of candidates standing to be elected the next West of England Metro Mayor on May 1 is: Arron Banks (Reform UK); Helen Godwin (Labour); Oli Henman (Liberal Democrat); Mary Page (Green); Ian Scott (Independent); Steve Smith (Conservative)
John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporting Service
MP arrested on suspicion of child sex offences
