The UK Parliament’s Independent Expert Panel (IEP) published a report on Tuesday reprimanding former MP and assistant government whip Aaron Bell for his sexual misconduct, which took place in December 2023. The misconduct was reported to the IEP by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards in early 2024 and relates to Bell’s inappropriate and unwanted touching of his younger colleague while at a bar. According to its website, the IEP “determines appeals and sanctions in cases where complaints have been brought against MPs of bullying, harassment or sexual misconduct.”

According to the report, Bell “touched the complainant on her left thigh, waist and bottom inappropriately and without her consent” at the Strangers Bar in Westminster. The complainant made the grievance through the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS), and an independent expert investigator was appointed. According to the report, there were two eyewitnesses to the misconduct.

The commissioner determined that Bell was in breach of paragraph 2.3 of the Sexual Misconduct Policy, and found the conduct proved on the balance of probabilities. Bell did not appeal this decision. The commissioner concluded that the “breach of the Policy was not suitable for resolution under his powers” and referred the matter to the IEP.

The IEP found that the conduct was very serious, stating in its report that:

The most significant aggravating factor is that the respondent abused his position of power over the complainant. Not only was he considerably older, but he was also a Member of Parliament therefore holding a particularly powerful role. In Addition, he was an assistant Government Whip which is not only a senior ministerial role with considerable authority, but also a role that involves upholding the highest standards of conduct.

The IEP noted that it was “limited” in what sanctions it could make as Bell is no longer an MP. It considered that this was a “serious case of sexual misconduct involving an abuse of power” in a form often overlooked by society and respondents, and stated that it would have been considered a significant period of suspension from Parliament if he were still an MP. It commented that the “trivialization” of this form of sexual misconduct perpetuates a harmful workplace culture.

The IEP concluded that the publication of its report and findings in this matter would “stand as a published reprimand for the respondent’s misconduct.”

Aaron Bell served as Assistant Whip from November 14, 2023, until July 5, 2024, and was the Conservative MP for Newcastle-Under-Lyme from December 12, 2019, until May 20, 2024.

The rule of law requires that there is accountability and transparency in government. This means that government officials should be accountable under the law as any other person would. The rule of law also requires that principles of open government and impartial justice are upheld.

The House of Commons established the IEP in 2020 and one of its primary purposes is to determine sanctions on “serious cases” involving bullying, harassment or sexual misconduct contrary to UK Parliamentary policies and the Code of Conduct for MPs. It is an independent panel that acts “without any political input or influence” in order to uphold public confidence and accountability in government officials.