The Frome MP David Warburton continues to be under pressure to resign, as more than a year has now passed since a newspaper report of alleged sexual harassment and cocaine use led to the Whip being removed.

On the anniversary of the date that was published the Lib Dems again urged him to step down. HERE

Meantime Langport Town Council also took a vote, which was carried, of no confidence in the MP, and has written several letters to parliament.

They wrote: "Langport Town Council does not think of itself as a political body, and we have not historically allowed national politics to impinge on our decision making. We work to serve Langport, but we have grown increasingly concerned about Langport's lack of representation in Parliament from our MP, David Warburton. This is a complicated time in Somerset's local politics with an entirely new balance being struck between the centre and the towns and parishes. An engaged MP should be helping us to get this balance right and raising any anomalies in Parliament. An MP who has not been allowed in the Palace of Westminster for almost a year, and with allegations of impropriety multiplying, rather than diminishing, is of little value at this time.

"We make no comment on the validity of the allegations against Mr Warburton, and we acknowledge that the pace of the process by which the truth and the gravity of the allegations is assessed, is woefully slow. However, we also note that the MP, in our neighbouring constituency, stood down to clear his name within four days of allegations emerging. We would urge Mr Warburton to take the same course of action and can have no confidence in him until he does. We want the people of Langport to be properly represented in Parliament once again, as is their right. We would further urge to same people to write to the Speaker asking him to intervene. "

The Speaker's office replied: " Parliament's Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) operates on the basis of confidentiality for the benefit of all parties. Therefore, we cannot provide any information on complaints or investigations, including whether or not a complaint has been received or whether an investigation is ongoing. The Speaker has no involvement in this process because, rightly, ICGS is an independent organisation separate from Parliament. "

They also wrote to the Standards Commissioner : " We find ourselves exhausted at the prospect of another year without representation in Parliament and as a result have passed the following vote of No Confidence in our MP David Warburton. While we hold him individually responsible for not resigning in order to clear his name, we also consider the disciplinary processes into which he has woven himself at fault. They are woefully slow. In this case justice delayed is justice denied not just to Mr Warburton himself but to each of his 83,000 electors. "

They replied to defend the length of time it has taken to investigate the case against David Warburton : " I would like to assure you, and through you the Langport Town Council, that all investigations carried out or overseen by my office are carried out as quickly as is compatible with rigorous collection of evidence and complete fairness of decision-making. Delays can occur for a variety of reasons, and can cause a wide range of difficulties and injustices; which is why we aim to pursue all investigations without any avoidable delay." 

A letter was also sent to the Chair of Somerton and Frome Conservative Party, who did not reply.