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Conservative MP Julian Knight has been suspended from the Parliamentary Party after allegations of serious sexual assault were made against him with the Metropolitan Police.
A spokesman for the head of the Conservative whip, Simon Hart, confirmed that a complaint had been lodged with the force last night and, as a result, the whip had been removed “with immediate effect”.
This means that Mr Knight, who is also chairman of the House of Commons’ digital, cultural, media and sport committee, will now sit as an independent MP.
But now The Met has released other details, saying in a statement: “On October 28, police received allegations of serious sexual assault against unnamed victims that reportedly occurred on unknown dates at undisclosed locations.
On December 7th, another referral was made related to the accident[s] An investigation has been opened.
Investigations are ongoing and no arrests have been made.
After issuing the statement, Mr. Knight posted a message on Twitter to the Chief Whip, saying, “To avoid any doubt, I can categorically state that I am completely innocent of any wrongdoing whatsoever.”
He claimed that no one from Mr Hart’s office spoke to him before the whip was removed or before his name was mentioned in their statement, and that he had not heard anything from the police or Parliament’s Internal Grievances Chamber.
The MP added, “It seems deplorable and utterly wrong that I have to make this statement after having publicly linked my name, Hassan as a Conservative MP, to an apparently serious but not entirely specific offence.”
“By hanging the whip unilaterally and publicly, you have stripped me of the right to anonymity or to a fair hearing in any judicial forum or, indeed, in the court of public opinion.”
He also said on Wednesday that he would remove himself from Parliament “until the matter is resolved”.
A source close to the Chief Whip said he was in contact with Mr. Knight last night.
Mr Knight joined Parliament in 2015, representing Solihull, where he worked as a journalist before entering politics.
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