Labour MP Dan Norris is arrested on suspicion of rape and child sex offences after police raid

A Labour MP has been arrested connected suspicion of rape and kid enactment offences, the Mail connected Sunday tin reveal.

Dan Norris, a erstwhile Labour curate who ousted Jacob Rees-Mogg arsenic MP for North East Somerset astatine past year's General Election, was taken into custody aft constabulary raided his constituency location connected Friday. 

They were aboriginal seen removing boxes of Mr Norris's goods from the property.

Mr Norris, who trained with the NSPCC and worked arsenic a teacher and kid extortion officer, has been suspended from the enactment pending the investigation.

A spokeswoman for Avon and Somerset Police said: 'In December 2024, we received a referral from different constabulary unit relating to alleged non-recent kid enactment offences having been committed against a girl. 

'Most of the offences are alleged to person occurred successful the 2000s, but we're besides investigating an alleged offence of rape from the 2020s.

'An investigation, led by officers wrong Operation Bluestone, our dedicated rape and superior intersexual battle probe team, remains ongoing and astatine an aboriginal stage. 

'The unfortunate is being supported and fixed entree to immoderate specializer assistance oregon enactment she needs.

'A man, aged successful his sixties, was arrested connected Friday connected suspicion of intersexual offences against a miss (under the Sexual Offences Act 1956), rape (under the Sexual Offences Act 2003), kid abduction and misconduct successful a nationalist office. 

'He's been released connected conditional bail for enquiries to continue. This is an progressive and delicate investigation, truthful we'd respectfully inquire radical not to speculate connected the circumstances truthful our enquiries tin proceed unhindered.'

It is the latest headache for Sir Keir Starmer, who would not invited a by-election successful North East Somerset fixed Mr Norris's comparatively slim bulk of 5,319.

Mr Rees-Mogg is understood to entertain hopes of returning to the Commons: helium believes helium would person held the spot if the Reform Party, which secured 7,424 votes, had not fielded a campaigner against him. 

He called for a 'coalition' with Reform successful the tally up to the vote.

A Labour Party spokesperson said: 'Dan Norris MP was instantly suspended by the Labour Party upon being informed of his arrest. We cannot remark further portion the constabulary probe is ongoing.'

Profile: Arrested Labour MP Dan Norris

By Ryan Hooper for the Mail On Sunday 

Blairite MP Dan Norris has spent overmuch of his big beingness successful politics, moving his mode up from section matters to the bosom of cardinal Government.

The 65-year-old’s archetypal sensation of powerfulness was arsenic a Bristol City councillor successful the precocious 1980s and 1990s, arsenic good arsenic a little stint connected the then-Avon County Council.

The Bristol City protagonist grew up successful the area, and archetypal contested a General Election successful 1987 erstwhile helium stood to beryllium Labour MP for Northavon – but finished 3rd down Tory grandee John Cope successful first, and the Liberal campaigner successful second.

Then successful 1992, helium mislaid the spot of Wansdyke to long-serving Tory incumbent Jack Aspinwall.

But animal-loving Norris was not to beryllium defeated and helium yet got the amended of the Tory seasoned successful 1997 arsenic Tony Blair’s New Labour swept to power.

In doing so, Norris marked 1 of a fewer reddish spots connected an different traditionally Tory landscape.

He was handed briefs successful the Treasury arsenic adjunct whip and, successful a motion to his mostly agrarian upbringing, arsenic Defra minister.

He held the spot until 2010, when, successful different alteration of Government, the constituency, redrawn by the Boundary Commission, was won by Tory Jacob Rees-Mogg.

With the enactment booted retired of Government - and Norris retired of Parliament - helium returned to determination politics.

Norris was elected Mayor of the West of England successful 2021 – a presumption helium has held alongside being an MP aft helium defeated his aged foe Sir Jacob to triumph backmost the spot of North East Somerset and Henham past year.

He is president of the committee of trustees for the League Against Cruel Sports, and has described himself arsenic a ‘life-long carnal payment advocate’.

The NSPCC-trained erstwhile kid extortion bureau has besides spoken successful Parliament astir his passionateness for looking aft animals.

Just this week, successful an adjournment statement astir way hunting, Norris said it was not a ‘peaceful activity’ but was alternatively ‘designed to get astir the existent legislation.’

He prefaced his involution by noting his relation with the League Against Cruel Sports, wherever his illustration connected the organisation’s website describes however ‘generations to travel volition look backmost astatine the cruelty we presently inflict and justice it arsenic a stain successful history’.

Indeed, the illustration adds: ‘I’m a life-long carnal payment advocator and 1 of my proudest achievements was calling for, and voting through, the hunting prohibition arsenic an MP nether the erstwhile Labour authorities and aboriginal serving arsenic an Environment and Rural Affairs Minister.’

His Register of Interests shows helium has received donations from a fig of groups and individuals, including £20,000 successful June past twelvemonth from Ecotricity, the greenish vigor steadfast founded by Dale Vince.

Norris enjoys photography and states his ‘favourite happening to bash is spell connected agelong walks crossed the beauteous West of England with my cocker spaniel Angel’.

Indeed the beloved favored features connected respective of Norris’s societal media posts.