The Labour Party has confirmed it has suspended West of England Mayor and MP Dan Norris, reportedly on charges of historic sexual attacks and a rape allegation from the 2020s.
The MP for North East Somerset & Hanham was arrested on Friday, and according to The Sun he was also held on suspicion of misconduct in public office. Labour has suspended the mayor, who was unable to run again in this May's mayoral election as he is a serving MP.
Norris had taken an interest in child protection: a former teacher, he was an NSPCC-trained child protection officer.
Having previously served as an MP for Wansdyke, Norris, 65, was elected to Westminster in 2024 after defeating Jacob Rees-Mogg, to whom he had lost his seat in 2010.
In a statement to Sky News, Avon & Somerset Police said: "In December 2024, we received a referral from another police force relating to alleged non-recent child sex offences having been committed against a girl. Most of the offences are alleged to have occurred in the 2000s, but we're also investigating an alleged offence of rape from the 2020s.
"The victim is being supported and given access to any specialist help or support she needs.
"A man, aged in his sixties, was arrested on Friday (April 4) on suspicion of sexual offences against a girl (under the Sexual Offences Act 1956), rape (under the Sexual Offences Act 2003), child abduction and misconduct in a public office. He's been released on conditional bail for enquiries to continue.
""This is an active and sensitive investigation, so we'd respectfully ask people not to speculate on the circumstances so our enquiries can continue unhindered."
A Labour source said to The Sun: "This has sent shockwaves around the party and everyone, particularly those who know Dan, are stunned. But the party has acted very quickly in suspending him and they have to be extremely robust on these issues."