MP cleared by police 4 months after claim about his behaviour
SOLIHULL MP Julian Knight has been cleared by London police after a complaint was made about his behaviour.
Bombshell allegations were made on December 7, last year – but the high-ranking parliamentarian has always maintained his innocence. The MP was never arrested or interviewed under caution, despite asking officers several times to sit down with him.
In February, Mr Knight penned a scathing letter to the commissioner of London’s Metropolitan Police and claimed an investigation into him was based on false allegations.
While the exact nature of the complaint was always unknown, Mr Knight was made to sit in the House of Commons as an independent MP. He repeatedly claimed he was not told in advance he would be suspended and the chief whip’s office has declined to comment.
Mr Knight previously said he had “incontrovertible proof of my innocence as well as clear documentary evidence of a conspiracy to blackmail me using a false and malicious allegation”.
He also revealed an initial complaint was made on October 28.
“On that occasion, the allegation was made to police by a third party whose complaint did not, unsurprisingly, lead to the launch of any investigation,” he wrote in the letter.
“Two months on from the second – and unsuccessful – attempt to have any investigation started into the same false allegation against me, I am still being denied any opportunity to be interviewed under caution by your investigating officers. This is despite repeated requests from my lawyer for this to happen.”
In a statement yesterday, Mr Knight said: “The fact is that there was never anything for the police to investigate. This was a single, false and malicious allegation initially brought to them by third parties, each of whom had their own clear motives for doing so.
“In publicly naming me in connection with the allegation, the Conservative Whips Office acted disgracefully and in breach of natural justice by removing my anonymity.
“Their actions meant my name was dragged through the mud and my good reputation immeasurably damaged.”
Mr Knight took aim at “the conduct of one person in the Whips
Office and the language used towards me” which he called “particularly egregious”.
He went on: “Had the police taken the simple step at outset of interviewing me under caution they would have seen that the allegation was false and scandalous. Instead, they waited four months, without ever talking to me, before deciding there was nothing for them to investigate.
“I have been left effectively to prove my innocence through my public statements and letters to the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and the chief whip. That cannot be right.
“It is now my intention to use every legal route available to pursue those inside and outside Parliament involved in having this allegation brought against me. Meanwhile I look forward to the immediate return of the Conservative Whip so that I can again represent my constituents on behalf of the party, as a member of which, they elected me.”
It is now my intention to use every legal route available to pursue those inside and outside Parliament involved in having this allegation brought against me. Julian Knight