A former Conservative mayoral candidate who breached Covid regulation by attending a Christmas party, has quit as chair of a police and crime committee.
When London was under Tier 2 restrictions banning household mixing, Shaun Bailey's team had organised a gathering at the Conservative Campaign headquarters on 14 December 2020.
However, he remains a member of the committee and the London Assembly. Bailey is yet to make a comment.
Bailey, who came second to Labour's Sadiq Khan in May's London mayoral election, is now facing calls to quit after a launch of probe into three government parties.
A photograph of the party appeared in the Daily Mirror on Tuesday (14).
Transport secretary Grant Shapps has criticised the event and has said: "That scene is absolutely unacceptable.
"It is unacceptable for people to be breaking the rules. That was not authorised by the Conservative Party," Shapps told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
"Those Conservatives who were on secondment from the party have already been disciplined and whatever further action needs to be taken will be taken."
It has emerged that four members of Bailey's campaign team had been disciplined over the party at the Conservatives' Westminster office.
Reports suggest, Bailey had briefly stayed to give a speech thanking the group.
Born in North Kensington to a British-Jamaican family, Bailey has been a member of the London Assembly since 2016.
Clifford had previously pleaded guilty to the murders of BBC sports commentator John Hunt’s wife and two daughters at their home in northwest of London, in July 2024. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Crossbow murderer found guilty of raping ex-girlfriend
A 26-YEAR-OLD man who murdered three women in a crossbow and stabbing attack has been found guilty of raping one of them, his ex-girlfriend, a British court ruled on Thursday.
Kyle Clifford had previously pleaded guilty to the murders of BBC sports commentator John Hunt’s wife and two daughters at their home in Bushey, northwest of London, in July 2024.
The attack led to a manhunt before Clifford was found injured hours later in a north London cemetery.
A jury at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday convicted Clifford of raping 25-year-old Louise Hunt before killing her.
His sentencing for all the crimes is scheduled for Tuesday.
Clifford had admitted to murdering Carol Hunt, 61, and her daughters Louise and Hannah, 28. He had also pleaded guilty to charges of false imprisonment and possessing offensive weapons but denied raping Louise.
During the trial, the court heard that after killing Carol Hunt, Clifford waited for an hour before attacking Louise, tying her up, raping her, and then killing her with a crossbow. He later killed Hannah when she returned home from work.
The prosecution described Clifford, a former soldier, as committing a "violent, sexual act of spite" and said he was "enraged" after Louise ended their 18-month relationship. They told the court that he had "carefully planned" the attack.
Less than 24 hours before the killings, Clifford had searched for a podcast by social media influencer Andrew Tate, according to the prosecution. They argued that the murders were driven by the "violent misogyny promoted" by Tate.
Justice Joel Bennathan called Clifford’s crimes "dreadful" and "almost unspeakable".
(With inputs from AFP)