A former Conservative MP has been formally reprimanded by a parliamentary panel after he ‘touched’ a woman ‘inappropriately and without her consent’ in a bar.
Aaron Bell was the MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme from 2019 until the election in July this year, when he stepped down for personal and family reasons.
In August, he was referred to the Independent Expert Panel at the House of Commons over an alleged incident of sexual misconduct at Strangers Bar – a popular drinking spot for politicians located within Parliament.
A complainant said Bell had ‘touched [her] on her left thigh, waist and bottom’ at the bar on February 2.
During an investigation, the married father-of-three stated he was ‘clearly drunk’ and therefore could not ‘recall everything about the evening’, but that he believed the flirting was mutual.
Today, the panel published a verdict finding that the MP had ‘abused his position of power’ during the incident, describing the misconduct as ‘both brazen and drunken’.
It added: ‘Not only was he considerably older, but he was also a Member of Parliament therefore holding a particularly powerful role.’
Bell was also an Assistance Government Whip at the time, a position that ‘involves upholding the highest standards of conduct’, the report said.
It concluded that Bell would have been suspended for a ‘significant period’ if he still sat in the House of Commons, adding: ‘If he had been eligible for a former Member’s pass it would have sought its indefinite removal.
According to the panel’s report, there were two eyewitnesses who confirmed Bell had touched the thigh and waist of the complainant.
He is quoted as telling the investigators: ‘Now I’ve obviously read the detail of [the Sexual Misconduct Policy] about, you know, that you need to get consent at absolutely every opportunity etc etc.
‘But realistically if you are physically flirting with someone in a bar, that’s not how it works.’
The complainant described him touching her ‘out of nowhere’ without giving her an opportunity to say no, and said she felt ‘really uncomfortable’.
Bell, the complainant and the two eyewitnesses are described as leaving the bar soon after the incident.
The panel said it was limited in the sanctions available as Bell is no longer an MP, but that the report itself ‘will stand as a published reprimand for the respondent’s misconduct’.
Responding to the report, Bell 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.’
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