By Ben Kerrigan-
An Mp has been suspended as a Conservative MP after a report to the Metropolitan Police involving allegations of sexual assault.
Tory MP Julian Knight had the whip suspended after allegations of sexual assault were made to the police, it has emerged. The MP for Solihull criticised the move, saying it was “wrong and unjustified”.
Mr Knight said he was at the “centre of a campaign of rumour and innuendo” and claimed to have received threats involving blackmail. At the time of his comment the nature of the allegations had not been disclosed, with the Tories only saying they acted after a complaint was made to the Met on Wednesday evening.
A statement from the Metropolitan Police said: “On October 28, police received allegations of serious sexual assault against un-named victims reported to have taken place on unknown dates at undisclosed locations. On December 7 a further referral relating to the incident(s) was made and an investigation was launched.”
Mr Knight is the chairman of the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee and has represented the West Midlands constituency since 2015. The removal of the Tory whip means he no longer sits in the Commons as a Conservative, but he said he would be recusing himself from Parliament until the case is resolved.
In a series of tweets, Mr Knight said: “I have heard nothing from the police, the Whips Office or Parliament’s Internal Grievance Service, or been the subject of any investigation by the latter. Nor have I ever been warned or spoken to by the Whips Office about any allegations of misconduct.
“I believe their withdrawal of the whip is wrong and unjustified.” A Tory source insisted that Chief Whip Simon Hart got in touch with Mr Knight to remove the whip, disputing his claim that he had not heard from the Whips Office.
Mr Knight added: “I have received what my lawyers advise are explicit threats involving blackmail, as well as being at the centre of a campaign of rumour and innuendo. All matters are now with my lawyers and I will be recusing myself from Parliament until the matter is resolved.”
Mr Knight has been contacted about the Met’s statemen
A party spokesperson said on Wednesday it had taken the step after a complaint to the Met, without commenting on the nature of the complaint.
On Thursday, the Met said in a statement that on 28 October it had received allegations of sexual assault against unnamed victims reported to have taken place on unknown dates at undisclosed locations.
The statement added: “On 7 December, a further referral relating to the incident[s] was made and an investigation was launched.”
Before the Met police statement was released, Mr Knight said he had heard “nothing” from the police or Conservative party whips about allegations of misconduct.
Writing on Twitter, he said: “I have heard nothing from the police, the Whips Office or Parliament’s Internal Grievance Service, or been the subject of any investigation by the latter. Nor have I ever been warned or spoken to by the Whips office about any allegations of misconduct.
“I believe their withdrawal of the whip is wrong and unjustified.
“Subsequently, I have received what my lawyers advise are explicit threats involving blackmail as well as being at the centre of a campaign of rumour and innuendo.
All matters are now with my lawyers and I will be recusing myself from Parliament until the matter is resolved.”
Mr Knight, who entered Parliament in 2015, is the MP for Solihull in the West Midlands and chair of the Commons culture committee.