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A Labour MP has been arrested on suspicion of rape and child sex offences, the Mail on Sunday can reveal.
Dan Norris, a former Labour minister who ousted Jacob Rees-Mogg as MP for North East Somerset at last year’s General Election, was taken into custody after police raided his constituency home on Friday.
They were later seen removing boxes of Mr Norris’s goods from the property.
Mr Norris, who trained with the NSPCC and worked as a teacher and child protection officer, has been suspended from the party pending the investigation.
A spokeswoman for Avon and 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.
‘An investigation, led by officers within Operation Bluestone, our dedicated rape and serious sexual assault investigation team, remains ongoing and at an early stage.
‘The victim is being supported and given access to any specialist help or support she needs.
Dan Norris, a former Labour minister, is seen returning to his home following his arrest
Dan Norris, who ousted Jacob Rees-Mogg as the MP for North East Somerset at last year’s General Election , was taken into custody after police raided his constituency home on Friday
Mr Norris, who trained with the NSPCC and worked as a teacher and child protection officer, has been suspended from the party pending the investigation (Pictured: Mr Norris with Sir Keir Starmer in 2021)
Dan Norris (top right), pictured during a meeting of metro mayors with Sir Keir Starmer last May
‘A man, aged in his sixties, was arrested on Friday 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.’
It is the latest headache for Sir Keir Starmer, who would not welcome a by-election in North East Somerset given Mr Norris’s relatively slim majority of 5,319.
Mr Rees-Mogg is understood to entertain hopes of returning to the Commons: he believes he would have held the seat if the Reform Party, which secured 7,424 votes, had not fielded a candidate against him.
He called for a ‘coalition’ with Reform in the run up to the vote.
A Labour Party spokesperson said: ‘Dan Norris MP was immediately suspended by the Labour Party upon being informed of his arrest. We cannot comment further while the police investigation is ongoing.’
