Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Reigate, Crispin Blunt, who publicly came out as gay in 2010, has been arrested in connection with an allegation of rape and possession of a controlled substance at his home in Horley, as reported by The Pink Times. The arrest follows an investigation initiated by Surrey Police three weeks ago when Blunt reported concerns over extortion.
Blunt, who previously served as a justice minister and chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the House of Commons, has been stripped of his party designation by the Conservative Party, effectively expelling him from the party. He will now sit in the House of Commons as an Independent member.
In a statement posted on social media, Blunt expressed his readiness to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation and stated that he believes it will conclude without charges. He has vowed not to comment further on the matter until the police inquiries are complete.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, the Welsh government has unveiled a draft of the Gender Quotas Bill, which proposes allowing individuals to self-identify their gender when running for the Welsh Parliament. The bill aims to establish gender-balanced representation by setting equal quotas for male and female political candidates, including trans women. This bill has sparked controversy, with transphobic opponents expressing concerns about its potential impact on women’s rights and safety.
While proponents of the bill see it as a progressive step forward, anti-trans and so-called women’s rights groups strongly oppose it. The leaked draft resembles a similar plan proposed by the Scottish government in January, which was blocked by the UK government.
Welsh government officials clarified that the leaked draft does not represent the latest version of the Gender Quotas Bill. They emphasized that their goal is to achieve a Senedd with at least 50 percent female representation and that work on the bill is ongoing. The first minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, known for his support of trans rights, continues to advocate for inclusivity and gender diversity.
These developments highlight the ongoing debates and challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community in both political and social spheres, underscoring the importance of addressing issues of representation and equal rights.