The Conservative MP Bob Stewart has been charged with two public order offences, police have said, and the Tory MP charged with racist offence might not even lose whip.
The offences are alleged to have happened in December last year, according to the Metropolitan police. The MP, 73, represents Beckenham in south London.
He will not lose the Tory whip, despite being charged with a racially aggravated public order offence, according to HuffPost’s Kevin Schofield.
Tory MP charged with racist offence
In a statement, Scotland Yard said: “Robert Alexander Stewart, 73, a Member of Parliament, of Beckenham, Bromley, was charged by postal requisition on Monday June 5 with:
“- Using threatening or abusive words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour and the offence was racially aggravated. (Contrary to section 31 (1) (c) and (5) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.)
“- Using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress. (Contrary to section 5 (1) and (6) of the Public Order Act 1986.)
“Both offences are alleged to have occurred on Wednesday, 14 December 2022 in Belgravia, London, SW1.
“Stewart will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 5 July.”
It said both charges related to the same incident and that the “second offence is an alternative charge to allow the court discretion on the racial element”.
Sunak
It comes as Rishi Sunak was flown from London to Kent for a briefing today – despite it being just over an hour away by train, to claim that immigrants coming into the UK has fallen.
An RAF Agusta Westland A109 – believed to have been transporting Mr Sunak took off from Battersea Helicopter just after 8am.
Had he caught the 8.04am train from London St Pancras, he would have arrived at the coastal town at 9.12am, reports The Mirror.
He recently flew down to engagements in Southampton.
Rwanda
Meanwhile in the Commons, Tory deputy chair Lee Anderson has told Suella Braverman Rwanda flights need to start because other policies ‘not the answer.’
He told Braverman that getting asylum seekers to share rooms, using barges, and “relying on the French” is “not the answer”.
anderson has demanded to know when the first deportations to Rwanda will start.
Suella Braverman said she has “huge confidence” in the Rwanda plan, but says it is still being challenged in the courts. She says she hopes flights will start “as soon as possible”.
Related: Boris Johnson: Police station closure comment leaves him with egg on face – arresting reactions
