The head of the government's main ethics watchdog has stepped back after it emerged he was investigated in a previous job over alleged sexual misconduct involving female colleagues, and had, in one case, been sanctioned.
Stuart Sterling was appointed as the first chief executive of the newly formed Ethics and Integrity Commission in October 2025.
The existence of the allegations against Sterling, and the investigations into them, were first reported by the Sunday Times.
Following the report, a government spokesperson said: "These are serious allegations. Stuart Sterling has stepped back from his role while we swiftly establish the facts."
The Labour Party promised in its 2024 manifesto to create the commission to "ensure probity in government" in response to scandals during the Covid pandemic.
As its head, Sterling's role included advising the prime minister on tackling misconduct in public life.
The Sunday Times reported that, in 2003, Sterling had been subject to a "full misconduct hearing" when he was a junior officer with Northamptonshire Police in what was treated as a case "of sexual harassment".
The paper said he had been accused of inappropriately touching the breasts of a female colleague in a police station, and a male colleague who allegedly witnessed the event had reported him to his superiors. It reported that he had been suspended on full pay.
