Former MP reprimanded over 'brazen and drunken' sexual misconduct at House of Commons bar

A former Conservative MP has been reprimanded by a Parliamentary watchdog over 'brazen and drunken' sexual misconduct at a House of Commons bar last year.

Aaron Bell, the former MP for Newcastle-Under-Lyme in Staffordshire, was found to have inappropriately touched a female member of staff at Stranger's Bar in December 2023. Mr Bell stood down as an MP at the last general election, and an independent panel said it would have recommended suspending him from Parliament for 'a significant period' if he had still been an MP.

Mr Bell has said in a statement that he is 'disappointed' at the findings of the report. Nonetheless, the former MP said that he has chosen not to appeal the finding.

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He said: “I apologise for any upset caused to the complainant and wish to make it clear that I did not intend to cause any distress.

“This investigation was one of the reasons I chose not to seek re-election at the general election – I have let down the loyal members of my association and thank them for the support they gave me as a Member of Parliament. I would also like to apologise to the people of Newcastle-under-Lyme, whom it was an honour to serve.”

Mr Bell told the committee that he was 'clearly drunk', having been to another drinks reception before going to Stranger's Bar. There he had met the complainant and two witnesses.

The panel heard that he had touched her on the bottom, waist, and thigh. This had caused the complainant 'shock, humiliation, and fear'.

Mr Bell also claimed that there had been 'mutual flirting', a claim which was rejected by the panel. The Standards Commissioner also noted that even if this had been the case it 'would not justify touching without specific consent' anyway.

In the report the panel also noted that the complainant had felt 'targeted'. It said that she was “young, female and a junior member of staff who would risk considerable adverse impacts on her career if she made a complaint”.

It added that Mr Bell had 'abused his position of power over the complainant' both as an MP and at the time as an assistant government whip. The report also observed: “It does not reduce the seriousness of the conduct that it took place in a bar.

“No matter how the respondent or others may view that environment, it is in the workplace and is governed by rules and policies on appropriate behaviour.

“Any Member of Parliament in that setting remains a person with particular power and authority. Indeed, sexual misconduct such as this, which is both brazen and drunken, makes the conduct more serious as the level of threat is increased.”

The misconduct report also said that the panel would have recommended suspending Mr Bell's Parliamentary pass indefinitely if he had been eligible for one as a former MP. However, he had not served long enough to qualify for one.

It concluded: “The contents of this report will stand as a published reprimand for the respondent’s misconduct”.