Man arrested on suspicion of sexual assault at Liberal Democrat party conference in Brighton after ‘nighttime incident at party’s Glee Club sing-along event’

A man was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault at the Liberal Democrat party conference in Brighton after reports emerged of an alleged incident at a late-night event.

Sussex Police confirmed that a 57-year-old man from Bristol was arrested around midnight on suspicion of sexual abuse by touching.

The Liberal Democrats expressed their “appallment” and announced that they had suspended a male party member.

Both the website Politico and the newspaper The Sun reported that the alleged incident occurred last night at the party's annual “Glee Club” singing concert.

A woman reportedly complained to staff that she had been touched on the bottom during the three-hour event, during which activists sang songs parodying British politics.

Security staff reportedly escorted someone out of the Grand Hotel in Brighton, where the event was taking place, in the early hours of the morning.

The man's arrest came just hours before Sir Ed took the conference stage to deliver his leader's speech.

The man's arrest came just hours before Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey took to the conference stage today to deliver his keynote speech.

Sussex Police said in a statement: “We have arrested a 57-year-old man from Bristol on suspicion of sexual assault by touching in connection with an incident that occurred at the Grand Hotel, Kings Road, Brighton at around midnight on Tuesday.”

A Liberal Democrat spokesman said: “We are appalled that this has happened. We have assisted the police in identifying and arresting the suspect and have expelled him from the party.”

The party's Glee Club is an annual conference tradition and it has previously seen Liberal Democrat activists sing songs such as “Lettuce Liz” about former Prime Minister Liz Truss.

Another song traditionally sung at the event is called “The Liberal Democrat Lie” and includes the refrain: “Tony Blair can fuck off and die.”

A popular tune, a variation of the football anthem “Three Lions”, uses the words “Golden stars on my flag” as a tribute to the EU.