Police probe ‘serious sex assault’ by a leading Tory
A LEADING Tory last night had the party whip suspended over ‘serious allegations’ that have been referred to the police.
Dover MP Charlie Elphicke, a married 46-year-old and member of the Treasury select committee, is facing an investigation following the claims.
Chief whip Julian Smith, who has been in the job for less than 24 hours, said: ‘I have suspended the Conservative Party whip from Charlie Elphicke MP following serious allegations that have been referred to the police.’
A source said the allegations had been made to the Tory party and passed to the police.
Mr Elphicke had instructed legal firm Carter Ruck this week following the publication of the list of sexual harassment allegations against Tory MPs and members of the Cabinet.
Last night he denied any wrongdoing over serious allegations made against him.
He tweeted: ‘The party tipped off the Press before telling me of my suspension. I am not aware of what the alleged claims are and deny any wrongdoing.’
One report claimed last night that Mr Elphicke had been reported to whips soon after Mrs May became Prime Minister last year but the woman who reported him didn’t want to involve police.
After entering Parliament he worked as an aide for the minister for Europe, David Lidington.
He became a government whip following the 2015 general election but he then stood down when Mrs May replaced David Cameron as Prime Minister.
Before his election to Parliament in 2010, he was a partner in a law firm, specialising in tax issues.
He started his political career in the London Borough of Lambeth in 1994 and was the deputy chairman of the Cities of London and Westminster Conservative Associ- ation from 2002 to 2006. Mr Elphicke is a member of the European Research Group of proBrexit Tory MPs and has called for stronger border controls.
During 2016, he campaigned for the dismantling of the Jungle migrant camp in Calais and argued for a freeze on fuel duty.
In the 2010 election, Mr Elphicke managed to secure a 9 per cent vote swing to take his seat from the Labour candidate, Stacey Blair. He lives near Dover, with his wife Natalie and two children.