Cameron Thomas, the Liberal Democrat MP for Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire, was arrested on suspicion of assault and controlling and coercive behaviour, the BBC reports. He was taken into custody on Wednesday night and released on police bail.

The Liberal Democrats suspended him from the party almost immediately. This means Thomas no longer represents the Liberal Democrats in Parliament — he now sits as an independent MP. Being suspended does not remove him from the House of Commons, and it does not trigger a by-election. He remains the elected member for Tewkesbury unless he decides to resign, is disqualified, or the rare process of a recall petition succeeds.

Controlling and coercive behaviour is a criminal offence under UK law, usually prosecuted where someone is accused of a pattern of psychological or physical abuse within a close relationship. It carries a maximum sentence of five years. Being arrested on suspicion does not mean Thomas has been charged or convicted. He is presumed innocent.

The speed of the Liberal Democrats' response reflects how Westminster parties now handle serious allegations. Over recent years, misconduct scandals have led all parties to tighten their procedures. For the Liberal Democrats — whose leader Sir Ed Davey has publicly emphasised the importance of standards — doing nothing was not an option.

Tewkesbury is a constituency the Liberal Democrats have held well in recent elections. The suspension is unlikely to affect any party's ability to pass votes in Parliament, but it adds another MP to a growing list across all parties whose conduct has become a matter for the police rather than handled within Parliament alone.

Thomas has not made any public statement. Police bail conditions, if any, have not been made public.