Julian Knight: Met Police drop sexual assault investigation into Tory MP

The Metropolitan Police has said it is no longer investigating allegations of sexual assault against a Tory MP.

Julian Knight, who was suspended from the parliamentary Conservative Party over the case, had always denied the allegations.

The Tory whips office said it would not restore Mr Knight as a Tory MP following "further complaints".

Mr Knight has claimed he is the victim of a "continuing a witch hunt against me" by the whips.

A spokesperson for the 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."

Mr Knight said the statement from the whips "smacks of a desperate attempt to cover up the identities and motives of those in Parliament who colluded for many months to bring the false allegation against me to the police".

"The whips office now seems intent on continuing a witch hunt against me in an attempt to prevent my naming names," he added.

An investigation was launched after police received allegations of serious sexual assault.

Scotland Yard received an allegation on 28 October last year, before a further referral relating to the incident was made on 7 December.

In a statement, the police said they are no longer proceeding with an investigation and there have been no arrests.

Mr Knight said he was not interviewed by the police, in a statement released before the whips office announced that he would not return to sit as a Conservative MP.

He 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."

He said the Conservative whips office "acted disgracefully and in breach of natural justice" in "publicly naming me in connection with the allegation".

"Their actions meant my name was dragged through the mud and my good reputation immeasurably damaged," Mr Knight 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."

The Solihull MP is the chairman of the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee and has represented the constituency since 2015.

He currently sits as an independent after being suspended as a Conservative MP in December last year.