Sex-claim MP will take Tories to court
A TORY MP quizzed by police over alleged sexual offences is planning to sue his own party – under the same law being used by Sir Cliff Richard to target the BBC.
Charlie Elphicke was suspended by Tory Chief Whip Julian Smith last November after sexual harassment allegations were made against him.
The Dover MP, who was interviewed by police under caution in March, has been accused of fondling the breasts of an ex-aide after they drank a bottle of champagne in his office and then touching her leg during a car journey. A female lobbyist also claimed that Elphicke had ‘lunged’ at her in a lift. He denies the claims – and police have not charged him with any offence.
Although party sources insist that Mr Smith had no option but to suspend Mr Elphicke because of the serious nature of the allegations, friends of Mr Elphicke say the party has breached his human rights by airing ‘unfounded’ allegations in public.
It has also been reported that a third woman has come forward with a rape allegation against Mr Elphicke – which he has denied – but he says the police have not raised the issue.
Mr Elphicke is understood to have retained a ‘leading libel QC’ on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis to prepare a case against his party for ‘breach of privacy’, which is enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights.
He plans to base his action on the case launched by Sir Cliff against the BBC over its coverage of a raid on his home in 2014 by police investigating historic sex assault allegations against the singer.
No charges were brought against Sir Cliff after an investigation lasting almost two years.
The Mail on Sunday revealed last week that the complaints by Mr Elphicke’s ex-aide had first been made earlier in 2017 when the woman had been embroiled in a dispute with Mr Elphicke over unpaid wages.
Sources said she had withdrawn the accusation after she was given her full entitlement – and the whips had told Mr Elphicke that the party had destroyed the official record of the complaint.
Both Mr Elphicke and a Downing Street spokesman declined to comment.