A FLINTSHIRE MP who sexually harassed a member of his staff has had his Conservative Party membership reinstated.

Rob Roberts, the MP for Delyn, began a 12-week suspension from the party in August, and was also suspended from Parliament for six weeks in May.

A complaints panel found Mr Roberts broke Parliament’s sexual misconduct policy after he made “repeated and unwanted sexual advances” to the person who made the complaint and also made “inappropriate comments of a sexual nature and was overly intrusive about his personal life”.

Mr Roberts, who apologised for his "unacceptable behaviour", has faced calls for his resignation - including from Commons leader, Jacob Rees-Mogg.

As his suspension has now been served, Mr Roberts has now become a member of the Conservative Party again.

However, the Tory whip - which would make him a Conservative MP in the Commons - will remained suspended, so he will continue as an independent MP.

A legal loophole meant Mr Roberts has not face a recall petition - which can lead to a by-election - as he was suspended by an independent panel rather than a parliamentary committee.

After Mr Roberts's case drew attention to this gap in the rules, MPs voted to change them so members suspended for bullying or sexual harassment can now face a recall petition.

But the House rejected a proposal by the Labour Party to make these rule changes retrospective so they could apply to Mr Roberts.