Dan Norris MP’s election agent has said he is shocked and upset at the MP’s arrest on suspicion of rape and child sex offences.

The North East Somerset and Hanham MP was arrested on Friday, April 4, on suspicion of sexual offences against a girl, rape, child abduction, and misconduct in a public office.

Avon and Somerset Police said most of the offences are alleged to have occurred in the 2000s but it was also investigating an alleged offence of rape in the 2020s.

Norris has been released on conditional bail. Formerly the MP for Wansdyke, Norris lost the seat to Conservative Jacob Rees-Mogg in 2010 but won it back, as North East Somerset and Hanham, 14 years later in last year’s general election. The Labour Party said it had immediately suspended him upon learning of his arrest.

Grant Johnson, a Labour councillor on Bath and North East Somerset Council who was his election agent at the election, said: “Yesterday’s announcement in the media of Dan Norris’ arrest and the allegations being made against him have left me shocked and upset.

“I have campaigned with Dan for a number of years and acted as his agent in the recent election, but nothing can prepare you for the serious allegations being made against him. The Labour Party has done the right thing in immediately suspending him from the party.

“My thoughts are with all those impacted by this news. I do not intend to comment further as this is an ongoing police investigation.”

Norris is also the West of England Metro Mayor. His time in the role leading the West of England Combined Authority is due to come to an end next month, as the election for the next Metro Mayor is set to take place on Thursday, May 1.

Under Labour Party policy, he is not standing for reelection due to being an MP.

Staff at the West of England Combined Authority are being offered specialist trauma support. Helen Godwin, the Labour candidate for West of England Metro Mayor, also said she was “shocked and upset” at the allegations against Norris.

She said: “I’m pleased that the Labour Party took the swift action to immediately suspend him from the party. I am thinking about everyone affected by this news and urge people to reach out to relevant organisations if they need support. I cannot comment further than this due to the ongoing police investigation.”

Norris has also served as the Mayor of the West of England since 2021 but is due to step down ahead of May's local elections.

A Labour Party spokesperson told the BBC: "Dan Norris MP was immediately suspended by the Labour Party upon being informed of his arrest.

"We cannot comment further while the police investigation is ongoing."

The full list of candidates standing to be elected the next West of England Metro Mayor on May 1 is: