I’ll clear my name pledges Tory MP quizzed by police in sex pest probe
A TORY MP questioned by police after claims of sexual harassment yesterday insisted he was “completely confident” of proving his innocence.
Charlie Elphicke, 47, is accused of targeting two young women aides in incidents said to have taken place between 2015 and 2017.
But the married father-oftwo has denied any wrongdoing and said: “I will continue to defend myself vigorously for as long as necessary.”
He spoke out after it emerged Scotland Yard officers interviewed him last month about the allegations.
Backbencher Mr Elphicke, MP for Dover, had the Tory whip withdrawn after claims were made against him during the sexual harassment scandal that engulfed Westminster last year.
He revealed on Twitter that he had not been told the details of the allegations until the police questioned him on March 12.
He said: “It was some five months before I was made aware of what the ‘allegations’ against me were.
“Now I know, I am completely confident I will be able to prove my innocence. I will continue to defend myself vigorously for as long as necessary.”
His tweet followed a statement released by his office on Saturday, saying: “I met with the police on March 12 (and) was then told for the first time the nature of the allegations made against me.
“Until that point I had no idea whatsoever of the allegations which had led to my having the Conservative whip suspended in early November 2017, despite my repeated requests for clarification to both the Chief Whip and the police.”
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “On March 12 a man was interviewed under caution, by appointment.
“The interview was in connection with an ongoing investigation being carried out by the Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command into alleged sexual offences.
Sacked
“The interview took place at a police building. At this stage in the investigation the Metropolitan Police will not comment further.”
A friend of Mr Elphicke was yesterday reported to have said that the allegations related to “low-level sexual harassment” which was “pretty minor in the scheme of things”.
Senior party officials were first made aware of the complaints in 2016, according to leaked documents.
One of the alleged victims approached the whips’ office and said she might decide to contact police.
Mr Elphicke’s wife Natalie said he had been the victim of a “kangaroo court” and compared the case to Carl Sargeant – the Welsh Labour politician who committed suicide after being sacked for sexual misconduct without knowing the allegations against him.
She added: “It will never be the right action to withdraw the whip before the police have had a chance to consider whether to take action – or before an independent body has had a chance to consider appropriate action.”