MP Leadsom says Tory colleague Nunn must go over abuse claims

Dame Andrea Leadsom has called on Conservatives to suspend former council leader Jonathan Nunn in the wake of allegations of domestic violence.

The South Northamptonshire MP said the situation was "unacceptable".

Mr Nunn resigned as leader of West Northamptonshire Council two weeks ago after five women told the BBC he assaulted and abused them.

He remains a Conservative councillor and strenuously denies the claims, citing a campaign of harassment.

In an email to 65 mostly Tory colleagues on Thursday, Dame Andrea said that while leader of the House of Commons, between 2017 and 2019, she established a complaints scheme to investigate bullying allegations in Westminster.

"It is now standard practice for a Member who is the subject of a serious allegation to resign the whip - or have it suspended by their party - pending the outcome of the investigation," she said.

Her email continued: "I recognise that he [Mr Nunn] has served us well as Leader and as a Councillor. However, we must all acknowledge that domestic violence is an extremely serious issue that we cannot simply ignore.

"The issue will not go away, and it will undermine the confidence of the public in our elected members if we do not address it.

"For Jonathan to retain the Conservative whip while still under investigation is an unacceptable situation."

In reply, the chair of the Northampton South Conservative Association, Nigel Hinch, said: "Andrea… Can you confirm who and what you believe is being investigated or are we solely relying on a BBC report or our own rumours?"

Mr Hinch also asked Dame Andrea to explain why she had sent the email to councillor Paul Clark, who sits as an independent, claiming this was a "serious GDPR breach".

A detective for Northamptonshire Police told the BBC they were reviewing the cases connected to Mr Nunn and had been speaking to his alleged victims.

On Monday, Adam Brown was elected at the Tory group's AGM to become its new leader.

After his nomination he said sorry to women "who feel let down", but has not raised concerns about his predecessor.

Deputy leader Matt Golby, who was also elected this week, told the BBC he did not want to speak about the allegations against Mr Nunn.

Cabinet member for environment, Phil Larratt, said "what's gone is gone and that's it".

To date, the South Northamptonshire Conservative Association has not responded to any of the BBC's requests for comment, while the regional and national Tory press offices said it "was a matter for the police".

Mr Nunn stepped down on 18 April, hours after the BBC published detailed abuse allegations covering a period of nearly 25 years.

Former partners have accused him of physical assaults, cruel verbal attacks and threatening or controlling behaviour.

Mr Nunn has described the claims as "unfounded" and said the "trial by media" had been "relentless".

He said he had always been "open and honest" about a conviction in 2004 for assaulting his then wife Janice Nunn.

James Hill, who is among a handful of Tory councillors to raise concerns about the former leader, said: "I am pleased that Andrea Leadsom MP has intervened on the Jonathan Nunn situation, as unfortunately our group seemed to be in a state of paralysis on the issue.

"I am hopeful that her email will encourage other members in our group to speak out on the matter."

Mr Nunn and the South Northamptonshire Conservative Association has been approached for further comment.

West Northamptonshire Council elections will be held next year.

You can contact Jon Ironmonger by email at jon.ironmonger@bbc.co.uk