A former MP accused of sexually assaulting a man at a London pub is due to stand trial next October.
Ben Howlett, 38, who represented the Conservatives in Parliament between 2015 and 2017, is accused over an alleged incident in Greenwich in 2021.
He was charged in April and first appeared in court earlier this month.
At Kingston crown court on Tuesday, Judge Martyn Barklem set Howlett’s trial for three days starting on October 19, 2026.
Howlett, who lives in Ashburnham Grove, Greenwich, was charged nearly four years after the allegation of sexual assault was first made to the Metropolitan Police.
He has not yet entered a plea to the charge, and a further court hearing has been set for October 13 this year.
After being charged and while awaiting his first court hearing, Howlett sat down with Sir Keir in North Wales for a meeting on AI at the end of June.
He was the MP for Bath during his stint in Parliament, before moving in the private lobbying sector. Howlett was in his role as co-founder of UKAI and chief executive of policy institute Curia when he met with the PM.
“On Wednesday, 18 August 2021 an allegation of sexual assault was reported to police”, said the Met, adding that the alleged victim says he “had been assaulted by a man”.
“The incident is alleged to have occurred in a pub on Nine Elms Lane, SW11”, said the force, before adding: “The suspect attended a voluntary interview during the course of the investigation.
“On Thursday, 24 April he was charged as above.
“The victim continues to be supported by specialist officers.”
Howlett is free on unconditional bail while awaiting his trial.
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