Man arrested on suspicion of sexual assault at Lib Dem conference

A man has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault at the Liberal Democrat conference in Brighton amid reports of an alleged incident at a late-night event.

Sussex Police confirmed a 57-year-old from Bristol had been detained around midnight on suspicion of sexual assualt by touching.

The Lib Dems said they were 'horrified' and revealed they had suspended a male party member.

Both the Politico website and The Sun newspaper reported the alleged incident occurred at the party's annual 'Glee Club' sing-along last night.

A woman was said to have complained to staff she had been touched on the backside during three-hour event, which saw activists sing songs parodying British politics.

Security staff reportedly escorted someone from Brighton's Grand Hotel, where the event was being held, in the early hours of this morning.

The man's arrest came just hours before Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey took to the conference stage to give his keynote speech today.

Sussex Police said in a statement: 'We have arrested a 57-year-old man from Bristol on suspicion of sexual assault by touching in relation to an incident which took place at The Grand Hotel, Kings Road, Brighton, at around midnight on Tuesday.'

A Lib Dem spokesperson said: 'We are horrified this has happened, we assisted the police in identifying and arresting the suspect and have suspended him from the party.'

The party's Glee Club is an annual conference tradition and has previously seen Lib Dem activists sing songs such as 'Lettuce Liz' about ex-PM Liz Truss.

Another ditty traditionally sung at the event, titled 'The Lib-Lab Lie', includes the chorus: 'Tony Blair can f*** off and die.' 

One popular tune, a variation of football anthem 'Three Lions', uses the words 'gold Stars on my flag' in tribute to the EU.