Liberal Democrat MP Cameron Thomas has been arrested on suspicion of controlling and coercive behaviour and assault, the Guardian understands. The 43-year-old, who represents Tewkesbury, was taken into custody by Gloucestershire police on Wednesday.
Arrest and Suspension
The Liberal Democrats confirmed that Thomas has had the party whip and his membership suspended pending the outcome of the investigation. In a statement on Friday, Gloucestershire police said: “On Wednesday [17 June], a man in his 40s from Tewkesbury was arrested on suspicion of controlling and coercive behaviour and assault. The man was interviewed by officers before later being released on police bail. Enquiries into the allegations made against him are ongoing.”
Political Background
Thomas became the MP for Tewkesbury in 2024, winning the seat from the Conservatives with a majority of more than 6,000. He previously served as a military police officer after a 23-year career in the RAF, where he worked in telecommunications and information technology. A tour as a drill instructor inspired him to commission as a military police officer, and he served in Iraq, the Falkland Islands, and the US.
Recent Activities
Shortly after 6pm on Wednesday, a post appeared on Thomas’s Facebook page showing him posing in the House of Commons in an England football shirt carrying the slogan “Extra Time for Dads,” a call for extended paternity leave. However, he appeared to still be in Gloucestershire to watch England’s opening World Cup game on Wednesday. Thomas, who lives in his constituency, attended a fair in the village of Bishop’s Cleeve, near Cheltenham, last weekend, where he chatted to local people and a Lib Dem councillor.
Defence and Foreign Policy Focus
Since the election, Thomas has frequently spoken on defence and foreign policy issues, lobbying the UK government for closer collaboration with Nato and EU partners and for the rebuilding of the UK defence-industrial base.
Party Statement
A Liberal Democrat spokesperson said: “Cameron Thomas MP has had the party whip suspended pending the outcome of a police investigation. We are unable to comment further while the police investigation is ongoing.” His membership of the party has also been suspended pending the outcome of the police investigation.
