LABOUR was right to suspend MP and West of England Mayor Dan Norris after his arrest on suspicion of child sex offences and rape, a minister said.

The party confirmed on Saturday night that it had suspended the 65-year-old MP for North East Somerset and Hanham, who has also lost the party whip, after being informed of his arrest.

Avon and Somerset Police said a man in his sixties was arrested on Friday and released on conditional bail.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones told Sky News today: “It’s right that the Labour Party suspended the whip immediately when police informed the party of Dan Norris’s arrest.

“But, as the police have said, this is a sensitive investigation and we shouldn’t be commenting further at this stage.”

In a statement on Saturday, the force said they were referred the case regarding a girl from another police force in December 2024, adding: “Most of the offences are alleged to have occurred in the 2000s but we’re also investigating an alleged offence of rape from the 2020s.”

They said an investigation is ongoing and at an early stage.

A party spokesperson said on Saturday: “We cannot comment further while the police investigation is ongoing.”