I will clear my name, vows MP charged with 3 sexual assaults
CONSERVATIVE MP Charlie Elphicke vowed to clear his name yesterday after he was accused of molesting two women.
After a lengthy police investigation, the 48-year-old MP for Dover, Kent, was charged with three counts of sexual assault, which are alleged to have happened in 2007 and in 2016.
His solicitor Ellen Peart said yesterday: “Charlie Elphicke has said from the outset that he denies any wrongdoing. He will defend himself vigorously and is confident that he will clear his name.”
The MP is accused of sexually assaulting one woman once in 2007 and the other twice in 2016.
The father of two was suspended from the party in November 2017 after allegations against him were referred to the Metropolitan Police.
It is understood he was later interviewed under caution by detectives.
Allegations
But the Tory whip was controversially handed back to him in December 2018, on the eve of a no-confidence vote, so he could support Prime Minister Theresa May.
Referring to the allegations, Elphicke said after the whip was restored: “I remain as confident as I always have been of clearing my name and will continue to work as MP for Dover as I’ve always done.”
The married solicitor was educated at Felsted public school in Essex and the University of Nottingham.
In 2010, he won what was considered the safe Labour constituency of Dover with a 10 per cent swing to the Conservatives.
He retained the seat in the 2015 and 2017 general elections and was made a whip in David Cameron’s government from 2015 to 2016.
Elphicke is due to appear before Westminster magistrates in London on September 6.
The Crown Prosecution Service said yesterday: “We have today charged Charlie Elphicke, MP for Dover, with three charges of sexual assault against two women.
“We made the decision to charge Mr Elphicke after reviewing a file of evidence from the Metropolitan Police.”
A senior Tory source said the Conservative whip was being suspended from Elphicke.
The move brings the working Tory-DUP majority in the House of Commons down to just two.
The next prime minister – either Boris Johnson or Jeremy Hunt – will face the prospect of that being reduced to just one if the Tories lose the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election on August 1.
Mr Elphicke’s constituency association chairman, Keith Single, said: “Throughout the last 20 months since these allegations were first made, Charlie has had our full support.
“That support will continue. Basic British values require that everyone remains innocent until proven otherwise.”