A disgraced former Conservative MP suspended for sexual harassing a member of staff is still receiving office support from a party research group.
Rob Roberts has already escaped a by-election in his marginal North Wales constituency, after Boris Johnson refused to close a loophole to force him to face his voters.
Now it has been revealed the MP is being helped with correspondence to his constituents by the Policy Research Unit (PRU), a group for Tory MPs – despite sitting as an Independent.
A letter he sent rebutting calls for an immediate public inquiry into the government’s handling of the Covid crisis is near-identical to that sent by some Conservative MPs, the Insider website discovered.
A Parliamentary aide confirmed the letters follow the format prepared by the PRU, which “provides briefing, research, correspondence and related support” to Tory MPs.
They subscribe to the unit through their taxpayer-funded Parliamentary expense accounts, paying £3,049 a year.
Mr Roberts and the two Tories who sent very similar letters – Felicity Buchan and Craig Mackinlay – all claimed expenses for subscription to the PRU in May 2020, the last available figures.
There was fury last month when the government announced it would close the loophole that stopped Mr Roberts facing a by-election – but only in future, not retrospectively.
That meant it would not have applied to the Delyn MP, who was suspended for six weeks and lost the Tory whip for “sexual misconduct” towards a staff member.
Labour put forward an amendment to apply the rules retrospectively, which meant the motion was abandoned for the day and is still unresolved.
The prime minister – who suffered a shock by-election defeat in Chesham and Amersham in June – is thought to be keen to avoid a likely repeat in Delyn, where Mr Roberts has a majority of just 865.
The staff member in the case claimed they were subjected to “persistent sexual harassment” by Mr Roberts. An Independent Expert Panel ruled he had abused his position.
In his letter, in precise wording echoed in the other letters, Mr Roberts has written: “The Covid-19 outbreak has been one of the most significant and consequential periods of our lifetimes.
“It has led to a tragic loss of life in this country and around the world and gave rise to previously unthinkable restrictions to our way of life.”
The PRU says it is “independent of any political party and does not engage in, or assist with, party political activities”, but works for Conservative MPs.
Mr Roberts has been asked to comment on his apparent use of the unit. The Conservative Party declined to respond.
