A Member of Parliament is under police investigation following an allegation of sexual assault at the prestigious Groucho Club in Soho, central London.
The male MP, who is in his 30s and was elected for the first time during the 2024 General Election, was interviewed under caution at a London police station on Thursday, 13 March 2025. The alleged incident is said to have taken place in August 2023, but the politician was only formally questioned last month, according to reports by The Sun on Sunday.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police confirmed the development, telling The Evening Standard: “We are currently investigating reports of a sexual assault at Groucho Club in Soho in August 2023. A man in his 30s was interviewed under caution at a London police station on Thursday, March 13. A file of evidence has now been passed to the Crown Prosecution Service and enquiries continue.”
It remains unclear whether the MP was aware of the police investigation at the time of the General Election, raising serious questions about candidate vetting procedures and transparency during the campaign period.
The allegation comes amid a growing number of misconduct claims surrounding Westminster, in what has become colloquially known as the “Pestminster scandal”. This latest development once again shines a light on the culture of secrecy and allegations of inappropriate behaviour that have long plagued the corridors of British politics.
Only days ago, Labour MP Dan Norris was arrested on suspicion of rape, child sex offences, child abduction, and misconduct in a public office. Norris, a former minister, had recently won the North East Somerset and Hanham seat from Jacob Rees-Mogg in Labour’s sweeping electoral victory under Sir Keir Starmer.
The Groucho Club, where the most recent alleged assault is said to have taken place, is one of Soho’s most well-known private members’ venues. With annual membership fees of £1,250, it has long been a late-night haunt for celebrities, creatives, and high-profile figures from the media and political spheres. Famous past and present members include Harry Styles, Sir Stephen Fry, and artist Damien Hirst.
The club temporarily closed its doors before Christmas 2024 following another, unrelated allegation of rape on its premises. That incident, which took place on 30 November, led to the arrest of a 34-year-old man. The MP’s alleged assault is not believed to be connected to the November incident.
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Following the November scandal, Groucho’s chief executive Elli Jafari stepped down from her post after only ten months in the role. The club later reopened on 10 January 2025, with Simon Cooke — the former boss of Ronnie Scott’s and a longstanding Groucho member — taking over as interim managing director.
The Groucho was first opened in 1985 and took its name from a famous quip by American comedian Groucho Marx, who once remarked that he wouldn’t want to belong to any club that would accept him as a member. Over the years, it has maintained a reputation for its exclusive clientele and bohemian spirit — though it now finds itself caught up in a swirl of reputational damage and high-profile allegations.
Parliamentary authorities have yet to comment publicly on the latest investigation involving the MP, though it is expected that pressure will mount for full disclosure if charges are brought.
As the CPS reviews the evidence, the matter is likely to reignite wider debate about standards in public office and the need for greater scrutiny of those seeking election to the House of Commons. For now, questions continue to swirl around who knew what, and when — and whether the public was left in the dark during one of the most consequential elections in recent political history.
