The cause of death of former Somerset MP David Warburton has been officially confirmed by the West London Coroner’s Court. Warburton, who served as the Conservative Member of Parliament for Somerton and Frome from 2015 until his resignation in 2023, was found dead in his Chelsea flat on August 26.
Emergency services indicated that his death was not being treated as suspicious. The coroner’s ruling stated that Mr. Warburton died of natural causes, and consequently, no inquest will be held.
David Warburton first won the Somerton and Frome seat in 2015, ending Liberal Democrat control that had lasted since 1997, and helped transform it into a strong Conservative constituency. However, his political career was marred by controversy. In April 2022, the Conservative Party withdrew the whip from Warburton amid multiple allegations of misconduct. After 14 months of difficulties, he resigned from Parliament in June 2023, describing the ordeal as “extraordinarily difficult.”
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In a candid interview with the Mail on Sunday, Warburton admitted to using cocaine following heavy consumption of potent Japanese whiskey but denied allegations of harassment towards a female political aide at his Westminster residence.
Following his resignation, the Liberal Democrats' Sarah Dyke won the subsequent by-election to fill the vacant seat.