Westminster rocked after Tory aide Sam Armstrong held over ‘rape’ in MP’s Parliament office ‘after House of Lords booze-up’

A TORY MP’s aide has been arrested for allegedly raping a woman in Parliament.

The alleged victim claims she was attacked by Sam Armstrong, chief of staff to Craig Mackinlay.

She has told detectives she went with Mr Armstrong, 23, to MP Mackinlay’s office just yards from the Commons and was raped in the early hours of Friday.

Police have confirmed a 23-year-old-man, has been arrested on suspicion of rape. Police did not name the suspect. Mr Mackinlay declined to comment.

The Tory aide has been bailed until January while investigations continue

The alleged rape came after Tory aides and female guests were seen drinking heavily on the House of Lords’ terrace until late on Thursday night, sources say.

The luxury Thames-side bar is subsidised by the taxpayer and is a popular watering hole for MPs, staff and guests.

A witness said: “There were a group of Tory advisers and female guests drinking there all night. Some were very drunk indeed.”

Police yesterday confirmed a 23-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of rape.

The South Thanet MP’s office in the Norman Shaw North complex yards from the Commons was raided by six uniformed officers on Friday and sealed as a potential crime scene.

Mr Armstrong has been bailed until January while the police continue their inquiries.

He has also been banned from entering the Parliamentary Estate until further notice.

Mr Mackinlay declined to comment but sources said he was in his constituency at the time of the alleged attack.

It is believed to be the first time a woman has reported rape within the Houses of Parliament.

Police were called to the Palace of Westminster at around 1am on Friday after the alleged victim raised the alarm.

Mr Armstrong hit the headlines last year after being named among a group of young Conservatives in the “Tatler Tory” bullying scandal, triggered by the suicide of 21-year-old activist Elliott Johnson.

He was barred from last year’s Conservative Party Conference while party bosses investigated claims that Tory MP Rob Halfon had been filmed leaving the swanky East India Club with his mistress as part of a failed blackmail plot.

Mr Armstrong denied any wrongdoing and no further action was taken. He said at the time: “I have denied these unsubstantiated, anonymous, and untrue allegations since their conception.”

The history and politics graduate was Mr Mackinlay’s chief of staff and press spokesman, which according to his LinkedIn, is a post he has been in for the past nine months.

His job description states: “I lead a team of staff in delivering the member’s objectives and developing his strategy in Westminster and his Constituency.

"I take special responsibility for delivering on: business relations, communications and press, political relations and on advising him on his committee work.”

From September 2014 until May 2015 Mr Armstrong states he was a ‘political campaigner’ for the Conservative Party.

His duties included working in events management, digital communications, research and intelligence and campaign strategy.

He was unavailable for comment last night.

A Met Police spokesman said: “Detectives from the Sexual Offences, Exploitation and Child Abuse Command are investigating an allegation of rape at the Houses of Parliament in the early hours of Friday, 14 October.

“A 23-year-old man was arrested the same day on suspicion of rape.”

The Commons Serjeant at Arms office, which oversees Parliamentary security, said that it was aware of the allegation.

It added: “We are working closely with the Metropolitan Police on the matter but cannot comment further at this time.”

The Norman Shaw buildings on the Embankment were previously the Met Police HQ.

They now house MPs’ offices and are connected by corridors to Parliamentary office buildings such as Portcullis House and are a short walk from the Commons.

An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that "Police have confirmed Mr Armstrong has been arrested on suspicion of rape".
At no time have the police provided us with the name of anyone arrested.