Report due on groping allegation MP Chris Pincher

Parliament's standards watchdog is to publish the findings of an inquiry into groping allegations against former government whip Chris Pincher on Thursday, the BBC has been told.

The report could lead to a by-election in his constituency, if a suspension of more than 10 days is agreed.

Sources familiar with the process said they expected the punishment to meet the threshold for a recall petition.

Mr Pincher quit as deputy chief whip after groping allegations last year.

Boris Johnson's handling of the allegations led to the downfall of his government after a wave of ministers resigned.

The Standards Committee's report on the investigation is expected to be published at 09:00 on Thursday.

The sanction recommended by the committee will have to be agreed by MPs.

Mr Pincher does have the right to appeal to an independent expert panel, if he can provide new evidence or point to a procedural inaccuracy.

The report follows an investigation by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner over allegations of "actions causing significant damage to the reputation of the House".

Mr Pincher quit his government role in June last year, after allegedly assaulting fellow guests at the Carlton Club in London.

He apologised for "drinking far too much" and embarrassing "himself and other people".

In the days that followed, Mr Johnson faced questions about what he knew about earlier accusations of sexual misconduct against Mr Pincher before appointing him deputy chief whip.

The BBC reported that Mr Johnson was made aware of a formal complaint about Mr Pincher's "inappropriate behaviour" while he was a Foreign Office minister from 2019-20.

At the time, Mr Johnson was already under immense pressure over revelations about lockdown parties in Downing Street during the pandemic.

In the wake of the controversy, dozens of ministers submitted their resignations, with Mr Johnson ultimately deciding to stand down as prime minister.

Mr Pincher currently sits as an independent member in the House of Commons.

That is because he had the Conservative whip removed when a formal complaint about him was made to the standards commissioner, which examines reports of bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct.

Mr Pincher has told the Conservative Party he will step down as an MP at the next general election, due in 2024.

He was elected to the Tamworth seat with a majority of more than 19,000 in 2019.