Peter Bone suspended as Tory MP after bullying probe

Peter Bone has been suspended as a Tory MP after an investigation found he had bullied and was sexually inappropriate around a former member of staff.

Parliament's behaviour watchdog found Mr Bone had exposed himself to an aide and had physically struck him.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards recommended suspending Mr Bone, who now sits an independent MP, from the Commons for six-weeks.

If approved by MPs, the suspension could lead to a by-election.

Mr Bone has denied the allegations, calling them "without foundation".

Parliament's Independent Expert Panel (IEP) found Mr Bone broke Parliament's sexual misconduct rules by indecently exposing himself to the staffer during an overseas trip.

The investigation was based on a complaint made to the body by a former member of staff, over alleged behaviour which took place more than 10 years ago.

It also upheld five allegations of bullying, including "instructing, or physically forcing, the complainant to put his hands in his lap when Mr Bone was unhappy with him or his work".

It also found he "verbally belittled, ridiculed, abused and humiliated" him, and "repeatedly physically struck and threw things" at him, including hitting him with his hand or an object such as a pencil or a rolled-up document.

The panel also upheld an allegation that Mr Bone "repeatedly pressurised" the staffer to give him a massage in the office. It found this was bullying, but not sexual misconduct.