Ex-Tory MP David Warburton, 59, who quit in controversy found dead

A former Tory MP who quit the Commons two years ago has reportedly been found dead at the age of 59.

David Warburton, the ex-MP for Somerset and Frome, waspronounced dead last weekafter an ambulance crew attended his Chelsea flat. His death is being treated as unexpected but not suspicious.

Before Mr Warburton quit his Commons seat in 2023 he was under investigation by Parliament’s watchdog following complaints from two women about inappropriate behaviour. An image emerged showing the ex-MP sitting next to a tray with four lines of powder on it -alleged by the Sunday Times to be cocaine.

He admitted taking cocaine to the Mail on Sunday, after drinking “incredibly potent” Japanese whisky. "I was set up, but I have been naive and incredibly stupid," he claimed at the time - but denied harassment claims.

And in 2022, he was found to have breached Parliament’s ethics code by failing to declare a £150,000 loan from a Russian-born businessman for his mortgage deposit. Mr Warburton took the money from a Seychelles-based firm belonging to Roman Joukovski in 2017 after he and his wife tried to turn their old home into a buy-to-let.

Marcus Fysh, a former Tory MP for Yeovil, said Mr Warburton was a "steadfast colleague and defender of Somerset and Britain".

"I am so very sad to hear this news and my thoughts are with David's family and friends," he told the BBC. "David was a talented and sensitive person with a great flair for words and passion for his constituents."

A Met Police spokesman said: “Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at 10.47hrs on Tuesday, 26 August to an address at Chelsea Crescent, Sands End.

“A man in his 50s was found dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed. His death is being treated as unexpected but not suspicious.”

A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We were called on Tuesday 26 August at 10.14am to reports of an incident in Chelsea Crescent, Chelsea Harbour, SW10. We sent an ambulance crew and a clinician in a response car. Sadly a man was pronounced dead at the scene.”

Fellow ex-MP Simon Danczuk told The Sun: "It's such sad news. He had really got back on track after having a difficult time in politics. He had got back on track and was doing very well in business, running an energy company. He turned his life back around really, it's incredibly sad news.

"I met him for drinks in Belgravia a few months ago. He was really doing well. He had a great team around him. Things were really on the up for him."

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