David Warburton, 59, was found dead at a west London flat; the death is being treated as unexpected but not suspicious and next of kin were informed. Emergency services responded to a call at 10.47am on Tuesday 26 August. Warburton resigned his safe seat in 2023 after suspension by the Conservative Party in April 2022 while an independent complaints and grievance investigation into alleged harassment and drug use was pending. The subsequent by-election was won by the Liberal Democrats. Warburton admitted taking cocaine after drinking very potent Japanese whisky but denied harassment and challenged the fairness of the process. In July 2023 the House of Commons discontinued the investigation. Warburton first won the Somerset seat in 2015 and increased his majority in 2019; he also attracted attention for significant weight loss and fitness changes.
A former Conservative MP who quit politics after allegations of sexual misconduct and drug taking has been found dead aged 59. David Warburton, who represented the Somerton and Frome constituency until June 2023, was found dead at the west London flat last week. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan police said: Police were called by the London ambulance service at 10.47am on Tuesday 26 August. A man in his 50s was found dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed.
Warburton announced that he was resigning his safe seat two years ago, having been suspended by his party in April 2022 pending the outcome of an independent complaints and grievance scheme investigation into allegations of harassment and drug use. His resignation led to a byelection, which the Lib Dems won. Warburton admitted taking cocaine after drinking incredibly potent Japanese whisky, but denied harassment and claimed he was denied a fair hearing.
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