Conservative MP Patrick Spencer has been charged with two counts of sexual assault following alleged incidents at the Groucho Club in Soho, central London, in August 2023, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has confirmed.
The 37-year-old, who represents Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, is accused of assaulting two separate women at the private members’ club, a well-known haunt for figures in the creative industries. Mr Spencer is due to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 16 June.
A spokesperson for the CPS stated:
“Following a review of the evidence provided by the Metropolitan Police Service, we have authorised two counts of sexual assault against Patrick Spencer MP. The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against this defendant are now active and that he has the right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary, or sharing of information online that could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
The charges follow Mr Spencer’s voluntary attendance at a London police station on 13 March 2025. According to the Metropolitan Police, this formed part of the ongoing investigation.
Mr Spencer, who was elected to Parliament in 2024 with a majority of 4,290, has denied all allegations. In a statement released by his legal team, he said he “categorically denies” the charges and “will defend the allegations robustly in court.” His lawyers added that he had fully cooperated with the police investigation from the outset.
The Conservative Party confirmed that Mr Spencer has been suspended and had the party whip withdrawn pending the outcome of the legal proceedings. A spokesperson said:
“The Conservative Party believes in integrity and high standards. We have taken immediate action. Patrick Spencer MP has been suspended from the Conservative Party, and the whip withdrawn, with immediate effect. The Conservative Party cannot comment further on an ongoing legal case.”
It is understood that Mr Spencer was advised not to attend the parliamentary estate while police enquiries were ongoing.
Prior to his election, Mr Spencer worked in finance with the private equity firm IPGL, chaired by his father, former Conservative Party treasurer Lord Michael Spencer. He also held roles at the Centre for Social Justice and as a senior adviser at the Department for Education.
In his maiden Commons speech in July 2024, Mr Spencer spoke on the importance of restoring public trust in politics, declaring that “the most important thing to the people across my constituency” was “restoring a sense of moral probity and public spiritedness to our political system.”
The Groucho Club, the venue at the centre of the allegations, has long been a fixture of Soho’s cultural scene. Established in 1985, it was named after comedian Groucho Marx and was founded as a more relaxed alternative to London’s traditional gentlemen’s clubs. The club’s ethos centres around creativity and a maverick spirit, attracting high-profile figures from across the arts and media.
With court proceedings now underway, all parties involved have indicated that no further public comment will be made at this stage.
