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PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) Patrick Spencer has been charged with two counts of sexual assault.
👥 Who’s Involved: Patrick Spencer, MP for England’s Central Suffolk and North Ipswich constituency (electoral district), and two alleged victims.
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📍 Where & When: Alleged incidents occurred at the Groucho Club, London, in August 2023. Spencer will appear in court on June 16, 2025.
💬 Key Quote: “Patrick Spencer MP has been suspended from the Conservative Party, and the whip withdrawn, with immediate effect,” said a Conservative Party spokesman.
⚠️ Impact: Spencer has been suspended from the Conservative Party and barred from attending the parliamentary estate during the investigation.
IN FULL:
Patrick Spencer, the British Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, has been charged with two counts of sexual assault. The charges relate to alleged incidents involving two women at the Groucho Club in London in August 2023.
The 37-year-old MP, elected to Parliament in July 2024, as the Conservatives more broadly were being ousted by Labour after 14 years in government, was not serving in Parliament at the time of the alleged incidents. Spencer is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on June 16, 2025.
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police confirmed that Spencer attended a voluntary interview at a London police station on March 13, 2025. Following their investigation, charges were brought. Frank Ferguson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s (CPS) special crime and counter-terrorism division, stated, “Following a review of the evidence provided by the Metropolitan Police Service, we have authorised two counts of sexual assault against Patrick Spencer MP.”
The Conservative Party has responded by suspending Spencer and withdrawing the party whip. A party spokesman stated, “We have taken immediate action. Patrick Spencer MP has been suspended from the Conservative Party, and the whip withdrawn, with immediate effect.” The party emphasized its commitment to integrity and high standards but declined further comment due to the ongoing legal proceedings.
The case against Spencer is just one of a slew of sex crime allegations levelled against British MPs in recent years. One of the most infamous involved Conservative MP Imran Ahmad Khan, who was found guilty in 2022 of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy in 2008.
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson was driven from office in part because he was aware of sexual assault allegations involving two men at a London club against former MP Christopher Pincher, but still promoted him to a senior role in the party.
A parliamentary investigation by the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) ultimately found Pincher guilty of “an egregious case of sexual misconduct” that constituted an abuse of power. Johnson initially lied, saying that he was unaware of the allegations.
Jack Montgomery contributed to this report.
PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Four major Pride events in Britain have banned political parties from participating officially, citing solidarity with the transgender community.
👥 Who’s Involved: Birmingham, Brighton, London, and Manchester Pride organizations; British political parties; transgenders; the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom; the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).
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📍 Where & When: Britain, announcement made following a Supreme Court ruling that determined sex is determined by biology, not gender identity, for the purpose of equality law.
💬 Key Quote: “In this moment, we choose to stand firmer, louder, and prouder in demanding change that protects and uplifts trans lives,” said Pride organizers.
⚠️ Impact: Political parties are excluded from major Pride events unless they commit to returning transgender “women” to women’s single-sex spaces and sports, amidst ongoing debates over gender recognition laws.
IN FULL:
Four of the United Kingdom’s largest LGBT Pride organizations have announced a ban on political parties participating in their events in an official capacity, citing solidarity with transgenders. Birmingham, Brighton, London, and Manchester Pride groups issued a joint statement explaining the decision, which they said was driven by a lack of commitment to transgenderism among political parties.
The announcement follows a Supreme Court ruling that defined “woman” under the Equality Act as being based on biological sex. While this decision has been welcomed by many citizens and campaigners, particularly lesbian and gender-critical groups, it has been resisted by transgender activists.
The Pride groups stated that the ruling highlighted the need for urgent action and described their move as a refusal to “platform those who have not protected our rights.” They also called for reforms, including full “protections” under the Equality Act—likely meaning renewed access to women’s spaces—as well as improved access to transgender medical interventions and sustained funding for trans-led services.
“In this moment, we choose to stand firmer, louder, and prouder in demanding change that protects and uplifts trans lives,” the Pride groups said in a joint statement.
The Supreme Court ruling stems from a case involving the Scottish Parliament’s gender balance legislation, which included transgenders in quotas for women. The court clarified that the Equality Act’s definition of sex is based on biology, not gender identity, even for those holding a government Gender Recognition Certificate.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) subsequently issued guidance emphasizing that access to single-sex spaces must align with biological sex.
Some groups, such as Scottish Lesbians, welcomed the clarification, stating it protects women’s rights. They have criticized Pride organizers for excluding lesbians by prioritizing transgender issues.
The decision to exclude political parties affects events that collectively attract over a million attendees annually. Political figures, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, have historically participated in Pride events.
Image by Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office.
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