Calls continue for Delyn's MP Rob Roberts to resign amidst sexual misconduct

Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg made the remark as he confirmed the Government is looking at dealing with a loophole which prevents constituents of Mr Roberts from forcing a by-election.

The House of Commons has approved a motion to suspend Delyn’s Conservative MP Rob Roberts for six weeks after he breached sexual misconduct rules by making repeated unwanted advances to a member of staff.

Mr Rees-Mogg said it was “frankly ridiculous that we have a higher sanction for somebody who uses a few envelopes incorrectly than for somebody who is involved in sexual misconduct”.

He said: “It’s not so much a loophole as an active decision that was made in response to the views expressed by staff groups that they were concerned about issues relating to confidentiality if recall were allowed on ICGS cases, and they were also worried about the requirement to involve a committee in the House of Commons.

“In my own opinion I think that those worries are not proportionate to the need to be clear that this House and all politicians think that sexual misconduct is at the most serious level of misbehaviour.

“It is frankly ridiculous that we have a higher sanction for somebody who uses a few envelopes incorrectly than for somebody who is involved in sexual misconduct.”

Mr Roberts also lost the Tory whip, but the way recall laws are drawn up means he cannot face the prospect of losing his seat.

Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg also told MPs: “I can therefore confirm to the House that I have asked the chairman of the independent expert panel for his views on whether changes should be made to the current process to enable recall to be triggered.

“In my view, any changes in this regard should be made in the most straightforward way possible and my preference would therefore be for a non-legislative solution.”

Mr Rees-Mogg said it is ultimately for the House of Commons to make a decision about Mr Roberts.