Commons Culture Committee chair Julian Knight said his name had been 'dragged through the mud' by the claim - details of which have not been revealed

Tories refuse to restore whip to senior MP Julian Knight after he was cleared by police over sexual assault allegation – with party saying it has received ‘further complaints’

The Tories tonight batted away demands from Julian Knight to have the party whip restored after police cleared him of a ‘malicious’ sexual assault allegation.

The Commons Culture Committee chair said his name had been ‘dragged through the mud’ by the claim – details of which have not been revealed.

Scotland Yard received an allegation of serious sexual assault on October 28 last year, and on December 7 a further referral relating to the incident was made and an investigation into Mr Knight was launched. 

At that point Mr Knight was suspended from the Conservative parliamentary party. 

In a statement today, the Solihull MP 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.’

However, a spokeswoman for Chief Whip Simon Hart said: ‘Following further complaints made to the Whips Office, we will not be restoring the Whip to Julian Knight.

‘These complaints, if appropriate, will be referred to the relevant police force, or appropriate bodies.’

Commons Culture Committee chair Julian Knight said his name had been 'dragged through the mud' by the claim - details of which have not been revealed

Commons Culture Committee chair Julian Knight said his name had been ‘dragged through the mud’ by the claim – details of which have not been revealed

Mr Knight delivered an angry rebuke to the whips' office in a statement this afternoon

Mr Knight delivered an angry rebuke to the whips’ office in a statement this afternoon

Scotland Yard said in a statement: ‘Police are no longer proceeding with an investigation.

‘There have been no arrests.’

Mr Knight delivered an angry rebuke to the whips’ office in a statement this afternoon. 

‘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,’ he said.

He added: ‘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.’

Mr Knight previously said he would ‘recuse’ himself from Parliament ‘until the matter is resolved’.

He has consistently denied any wrongdoing, and said he had never been ‘warned or spoken to’ by Tory whips about any allegations of misconduct.

The former journalist blasted a ‘campaign of rumour and innuendo’ against him.

A spokeswoman for Chief Whip Simon Hart said: 'Following further complaints made to the Whips Office, we will not be restoring the Whip to Julian Knight.'

A spokeswoman for Chief Whip Simon Hart said: ‘Following further complaints made to the Whips Office, we will not be restoring the Whip to Julian Knight.’

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