Former Conservative MP David Warburton, who represented the Somerton and Frome constituency, has died at the age of 59. His body was discovered at his west London flat on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Metropolitan Police confirmed that the death was unexpected but not suspicious, and that next of kin have been informed.
The news of his passing comes nearly two and a half years after his political career was derailed by serious allegations.
Discovery of Death in West London
Police were called to an address in Chelsea, west London, by the London Ambulance Service at approximately 10:47 AM on August 26, 2025. A man in his 50s was found deceased at the scene. The Metropolitan Police stated that the circumstances surrounding his death are being treated as unexpected but not suspicious. A spokesperson for the London Ambulance Service confirmed they were called to Chelsea Crescent, Chelsea Harbour, and that tragically, a man was pronounced dead at the scene.
A Political Career Marked by Allegations
David Warburton entered Parliament in 2015 as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Somerton and Frome, Somerset. He secured a notable swing to the Conservative Party in that election and was re-elected in 2019 with a substantial majority of over 19,000 votes. Before entering politics, Warburton had a diverse background, including a career as a musician, businessman, and a teacher in a London comprehensive school.
However, his parliamentary career took a sharp turn in April 2022 when the Conservative Party suspended him and withdrew the whip. This action followed newspaper reports detailing allegations of sexual harassment made by three women and the emergence of a photograph allegedly showing him near lines of cocaine. Warburton denied the harassment claims but admitted to taking cocaine after consuming “incredibly potent” Japanese whisky.
Investigations, Resignation, and Appeal
Concurrent with the harassment allegations, Warburton also faced scrutiny over his financial declarations. The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards found he had breached the MPs’ code of conduct twice, notably for failing to declare a £150,000 loan from a Russian businessman received in 2017.
An investigation by Parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) into the harassment allegations proceeded for approximately 14 months. Warburton consistently maintained he had been denied a fair hearing by the scheme. In July 2023, an independent panel reviewing the case ruled that the original investigation had been “materially flawed.” Warburton subsequently stated that the complaints against him had been withdrawn, expressing that the ordeal had been “extraordinarily difficult” and had taken an “incalculable” personal toll.
Despite the investigation’s flaws being acknowledged and claims of withdrawn allegations, Warburton resigned his seat as MP for Somerton and Frome on June 17, 2023. His resignation triggered a by-election, which was won by the Liberal Democrats.
Broader Context and Reactions
Warburton’s resignation contributed to a period of political turbulence for the then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, with several high-profile by-elections occurring around the same time. Former Labour MP Simon Danczuk commented on the news of Warburton’s death, stating that he had “really got back on track” and was “doing very well in business” recently, describing the news as “incredibly sad.”
David Warburton’s story highlights a difficult chapter in parliamentary conduct, marked by serious allegations that ultimately overshadowed his tenure as a popular MP for Somerton and Frome before his untimely death in London. The news of his passing has reverberated through political circles, marking the end of a complex and controversial public life.