BONE OF CONTENTION

A TORY Minister yesterday brazenly swept aside the latest sex and bullying scandal to rock his party - and hit the campaign trail with shamed MP Peter Bone.

- LIZZY BUCHAN

Tom Pursglove astonishingly decided to accompany him as he went doorknocking for the Conservatives in his stunned constituency - just 48 hours after being banned from the Commons.

Mr Pursglove, 34 - Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work - is a friend of veteran backbencher Mr Bone, now serving a six-week suspension over bullying and sexual misconduct claims.

It comes after a nightmare week for Rishi Sunak due to by-election losses and the arrest of another MP.

The pair's constituencies are next door to each other in Northamptonshire and Corby MP Mr Pursglove was only too happy to join his pal drumming up support for the Tories in his Wellingborough seat ahead of a council election.

But some constituents were shocked to see their banned MP, with one later telling us "mud sticks". And Labour Party Chair Anneliese Dodds said it "beggars belief" a Minister thinks its "appropriate to walk hand-in-hand with someone suspended for bullying and sexual harassment". Mr Bone, 71, was found by Westminster's sleaze watchdog committee to have engaged in a "wilful pattern of bullying" by throwing things at his aide, striking him, and verbally abusing him.