Tory MPs scandal as police probe sex and forgery claims
Yard officers quiz MP over harassment
A TORY MP who was suspended from the party five months ago during the Westminster harassment storm has been interviewed under caution by police investigating alleged sexual offences.
Charlie Elphicke, the MP for Dover, was quizzed by Scotland Yard officers last month amid intense speculation among fellow MPs over why he had lost the party whip.
The saga had put pressure on Chief Whip Julian Smith, who on his first day in the role had suspended Mr Elphicke after referring ‘serious allegations’ to the police.
Mr Elphicke’s colleagues demanded that he be told about the nature of the allegations – or have the whip restored.
Last night, a friend of Mr Elphicke said the allegations related to claims of ‘ lowlevel sexual harassment’ which was ‘pretty minor in the scheme of things’.
Mr Elphicke released a statement to The Mail on Sunday in which he said: ‘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.
‘Naturally I am co-operating fully with the police and have made it clear to them that I vigorously deny any wrongdoing whatsoever. Now that I am finally aware of the allegations the police are investigat- ing, I am confident that I will be able to clear my name.’
The friend said t hat t he allegations which had been made were ‘ Michael Fallon level’ – a reference to the former Defence Secretary who lost his Cabinet job last year following claims that he had placed a hand on one female journalist’s knee and ‘tried to kiss’ a second woman.
Before the police interview, Mr Elphicke had complained publicly that the saga had cast a long shadow over his family – and said that he had been ‘thrown to the wolves’ by the Conservative Party.
Last night, the Metropolitan Police issued a statement to The Mail on Sunday which said: ‘ On March 12, 2018, a man was interviewed under caution, by appointment. The interview was in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged sexual offences.’
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: ‘These are serious allegations and subject to an ongoing police investigation. We cannot comment further.’