LOCAL MP Dan Norris has insisted he is serving his constituents to the best of his ability in one of his first public statements since he was arrested on suspicion of rape in 2025.
Mr Norris has been further arrested on suspicion of rape against a second woman, sexual assault against a third woman, and voyeurism and upskirting against a number of women, it was revealed last month.
Mr Norris, who remains on conditional bail, has not been charged with any offence and has said he “vigorously and entirely” denies the allegations.
He continues to be the North East Somerset and Hanham MP but is understood to have been banned from entering Parliament since shortly after his initial arrest in April 2025.
There have been calls locally for Mr Norris to step down, but the MP has said he is continuing to do his job.
Mr Norris told the Local Democracy Reporting Service on February 6: “I would like to make clear that I am still representing constituents on a broad range of issues, including handling casework and policy, submitting written questions, voting by proxy and staying across all local and national developments in order to continue to serve constituents to the best of my ability.
“My constituency office is operating as usual, prioritising the most urgent cases as always, replying to all constituents, resolving issues with public bodies and raising broader policy concerns in Parliament.”
It is the first time that Mr Norris has responded to a request for comment from the Local Democracy Reporting Service since shortly after his initial arrest in April 2025, when a member of his team confirmed that staff were continuing to work on casework.
The MP only broke his public silence last month when he said in a statement after his further arrest: “I vigorously and entirely deny the serious allegations made against me. They are untrue. I am challenging them through my legal representatives.”
Parliament’s register of interests of members’ staff shows that, as of December, Mr Norris no longer has any staff with a pass to enter the parliamentary estate.
Mr Norris responded himself to an email to his constituency office asking how many staff continued to work there, although he did not directly address the question.
More than 3,200 have signed a petition started by North East Somerset and Hanham constituent Andrew Gray and sent to Mr Norris in December, calling for him to step down.
It said locals respected the principle of innocent until proven guilty but that the restriction on his attending Parliament had “created a situation that many residents feel is untenable.”
Mr Norris continues to vote frequently via proxy, with his proxy vote being cast by the Labour whips despite the party having suspended him after his initial arrest.
Avon and Somerset Police, who have not named Mr Norris, said in a statement on February 2: “An investigation into allegations of non-recent sexual offences which resulted in the arrest of a man in his sixties is continuing.
“The investigation, which is being led by officers with Operation Bluestone, our dedicated rape and serious sexual assault investigation team, began in December 2024.”
John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporting Service
Norris: I’m doing my best for constituents
