Chris Pincher is set to be suspended from the House of Commons for eight weeks

If supported by MPs, this sanction will automatically trigger a recall petition that would likely result in a vacancy in the disgraced politician’s Tamworth constituency.

There are already three by-elections on July 20. Two came after the resignations of Boris Johnson and his ally Nigel Adams.

The third reason was David Warburton’s resignation following allegations of sexual harassment and cocaine use.

Nadine Dorries had also indicated her resignation, but had not yet done so.

CONTINUE READING: Watchdog opens probe into fumbling allegation by Tory MP Chris Pincher

It was the allegations against Mr Pincher that ultimately hastened Boris Johnson’s ouster.

Last summer he was accused of drunkenly assaulting two men at the exclusive Carlton Club in London.

Mr Pincher reportedly stroked the left buttock of a man in his 20s before moving his hand to his groin shortly after buying a round of drinks.

A second man also claimed he was drunk and groped by Mr Pincher that same night.

The incidents were observed by at least two MPs who alerted Chris Heaton-Harris, then Chief Whip.

The politician had to be kicked out of the club by Bolsover Tory MP Mark Fletcher.

It wasn’t the first time allegations had been leveled against the politician.

However, the Downing Street story about what the Prime Minister knew about these historical claims changed in the days that followed.

First, No. 10 said Mr Johnson had no knowledge of “specific allegations” against Mr Pincher.

Junior Secretary Will Quince told broadcasters that he had been given “firm assurances that the Prime Minister was not aware of any serious, specific allegations”.

The next day, Downing Street confirmed that Mr Johnson was aware of concerns about Mr Pincher’s behavior when he appointed him Deputy Chief Whip.

They admitted Mr Johnson had been aware of “reports and speculation regarding this individual over the years” when they appointed him to the Whip’s office in February, but there were “no specific allegations”.

But the former Secretary of State at the Foreign Office said Downing Street had made “inaccurate allegations”.

In a letter to the Parliamentary Standards Officer, Lord McDonald said Mr Johnson had been “personally briefed on the initiation and outcome of the inquiry”.

The letter alleges that the statements released by No. 10 are “not true” and the “amendment is still incorrect”.

He said: “There was an ‘official complaint’ and that ‘the allegations were only ‘resolved’ in the sense that the investigation was closed.”

“Mr Pincher was not exonerated. To describe the allegations as ‘unfounded’ is therefore wrong,” he added.

According to Mr Johnson’s former chief adviser Dominic Cummings, the Tory boss jokingly referred to the MP as a “pincher in name, pincher by nature”.

Tory MPs condemned Mr Johnson’s handling of the matter. Sajid Javid was the first minister to resign, followed shortly thereafter by Mr Sunak.

Mr Pincher has since claimed he was seeking “professional medical assistance”.

CONTINUE READING: Boris Johnson is under pressure over Chris Pincher’s claims

In its response to the regulator’s report, the Common’s Standards Committee said that Mr Pincher’s conduct was “completely inappropriate, deeply damaging to the individuals concerned and constituted an abuse of power”.

“The violation we are considering relates solely to whether Mr. Pincher has caused material harm to the reputation and integrity of the House of Representatives as a whole, or its Members generally.”

“The perception that MPs can engage in such behavior with impunity has a significant impact on public perceptions of the House of Representatives and its Members.

“We therefore recommend that Mr. Pincher be suspended from service in the House of Representatives for eight weeks.”

They said it was “apparent that Mr. Pincher’s conduct, which led to extensive public comment in the media about the reputation and integrity of all members of the House, had a material negative impact on the reputation of the entire House of Representatives.”

Mr Pincher’s behavior was also “deeply inappropriate and had a significant impact on the individuals involved,” the committee said. A witness stated that the incident made them “increasingly anxious”.

Labor Deputy Leader Angela Rayner called on Mr Pincher to step down as MP.

She said: “Chris Pincher’s actions are shocking. But what’s worse is the way the Conservative Party protected him and even promoted him despite an earlier investigation into his conduct.

“Chris Pincher should now do the decent thing and step down as MP. The people of Tamworth and the surrounding villages deserve more from their representative in Parliament.”