Disgraced MP Rob Roberts will be allowed back into the Conservative Party after just 12 weeks, officials confirmed today.
The Delyn MP was suspended from Parliament for six weeks sexually harassing a former staff member, and had the whip withdrawn by the Conservative Party.
An Independent Expert Panel ruled he had committed “significant” misconduct, and had abused his position.
After the ruling, Mr Roberts apologised, saying the “breach of trust” was “completely improper and should not have happened.”
But a loophole in Commons rules means he won’t face a “recall” vote, which would see them ousted from Parliament.
And now Tory officials have confirmed that while he won’t be allowed to return as a Conservative MP, his party membership will be re-instated on November 1.
Despite still having the whip withdrawn, Mr Roberts has consistently sat on the Government benches in Parliament.
Tory co-Chair Amanda Milling is understood to have called for a “review” of his membership of the party after his Commons suspension was handed down.
A party disciplinary panel recommended that his membership be suspended for a period of 12 weeks.
Mr Roberts’ suspension began on August 9, and he did not appeal it.
The 12-week suspension ends on November 1 - and while he will become a full member of the party again, he will not be allowed to sit in the Commons as a Tory MP - despite sitting on the Conservative benches.
A Conservative Party spokesperson said: “Rob Roberts is serving a 12 week suspension of his membership from the Conservative Party.
“The Conservative Party expects its members to behave in a manner fit for public life and Rob Roberts behaviour fell below the standards expected of him.”
In a statement released following the judgement in May, he admitted he had “asked a male member of Parliamentary staff to dinner in the hope of striking up a personal relationship. I recognise that this breach of trust in the MP-staff relationship was completely improper and should not have happened.
“I apologised at the time and do so again to the complainant but also to my colleagues, family and most importantly my constituents.”
