Rishi Sunak set to come under fire over Clapham chemical attack

Published

1 year ago

February 4, 2024

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Rishi Sunak will come under pressure from both Labour and Tory rebels this week over the Clapham chemical attack.

A huge manhunt is under way for the suspect, but politicians are looking to use the case to highlight political failings, the Politics at Jack and Sam’s podcast reveals.

Labour is planning to suggest Home Office failings and a broken asylum system might have led to an Afghan asylum seeker being the main suspect in an attack on a woman and two children with an alkaline substance in Clapham, south London. In total, 12 people were hurt.

Tory plotters hoping to unseat the prime minister believe the episode shows the need for a policy like Rwanda to be introduced, and highlight its shortcomings once again.

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The government is set to argue that the Home Office is not responsible for any mistakes and that any questionable decisions were made by an independent tribunal.

Labour voted against the illegal migration bill, which the government will point out stops anyone coming illegally from staying.

The Home Office is braced for questions in the Commons on Monday.

Many of the key decisions around the suspect look likely to have been taken before Mr Sunak became prime minister. This is unlikely to deter his critics.

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Patrick Spencer: Suspended Tory MP denies sexually assaulting two women at private members’ club

Published

3 hours ago

June 16, 2025

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Patrick Spencer: Suspended Tory MP denies sexually assaulting two women at private members' club

An MP has denied two counts of sexual assault allegedly carried out at a private members’ club in central London.

Patrick Spencer, who represents Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, is accused of cupping the breasts of two women over their clothes at the Groucho Club in August 2023.

The 37-year-old confirmed his full name and date of birth before pleading not guilty to the offences at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

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He is due to appear at Southwark Crown Court on 14 July.

Spencer was suspended from the Conservative Party and had the whip withdrawn after the charges were brought.

The politician was first elected to parliament last year with a majority of 4,290.

Lawyers acting for the MP have previously said he “categorically denies the charges” and would defend against the allegations “robustly in court”.

The Groucho Club, on Dean Street, opened in 1985 and became a renowned meeting place for A-list celebrities and others, including actors, comedians and media executives.

The club was named after the comedian and actor Groucho Marx, who reportedly once said he would refuse to join any club that would have him as a member.