David Warburton, the former Conservative MP whose political career collapsed after a high-profile scandal, has died suddenly at the age of 59.
Paramedics were called to his Chelsea Harbour flat last Tuesday morning, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police confirmed his death is being treated as “unexpected but not suspicious,” and his family have been informed.
From Parliament to Public Scandal
Warburton represented Somerset and Frome from 2015 until 2023.
Once considered a rising figure, his career came crashing down after he was accused of sexual harassment and drug use.
The allegations led to his suspension from the Conservative Party in April 2022, and eventually, his resignation from Parliament in June 2023.
Although he admitted to taking cocaine after a heavy night of drinking, he denied sexually harassing a female aide.
The scandal left him facing enormous personal and political pressure, including a stint in a psychiatric hospital, where he said he had struggled with suicidal thoughts.
Friends Say He Was Turning His Life Around
Despite the controversies, those close to Warburton insist he had been rebuilding his life.
Former MP Stephen Danczuk described his death as “incredibly sad,” saying Warburton had recently been thriving in business, running an energy company.
“I met him for drinks in Belgravia just a few months ago,” Danczuk recalled.
“He seemed upbeat, surrounded by a good team, and really turning things around.”
Ambulance and Police Statements
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson confirmed that paramedics were dispatched to Chelsea Crescent, SW10, at 10:14 a.m. on August 26.
Despite their efforts, Warburton was declared dead shortly after.
The Metropolitan Police said: “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 Bitter Legal Battle in Westminster
Warburton always maintained that parts of the scandal against him had been manufactured.
He successfully appealed one sexual misconduct finding in 2023, with the Commons’ Independent Expert Panel ordering a reinvestigation and sharply criticising the handling of his case.
He resigned from Parliament shortly before the panel’s decision was made public, saying he felt denied a fair hearing.
In a fiery resignation letter, he accused the oversight system of being “not fit for purpose” and suggested it could threaten the reputations of any MP.
Allegations and Denials
The original complaint came from a staff member in his Westminster office in March 2022, who accused him of four instances of sexual misconduct and two cases of bullying.
While parts of the complaint were upheld by Parliament’s standards commissioner, Warburton insisted the accusations were “malicious,” even alleging that the complainant colluded with witnesses.
The panel made no final ruling on the truth of the allegations, but concluded a reinvestigation was “necessary and proportionate.”
A Family Left Behind
Beyond politics, Warburton was a husband and father.
He leaves behind his wife, Harriet, and their two children.
His sudden passing closes the chapter on a career marked by both promise and controversy — and a personal life that, friends say, he was finally beginning to rebuild.
