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A senior Tory MP doubled down on his defence of a colleague convicted of a sex attack on a teenage boy today, insisting he did not get a fair trial.
Former Justice Minister Crispin Blunt was widely criticised last month for defending Imran Ahmad Khan, after the Wakefield MP was convicted of sexual assaulting the 15-year-old.
Mr Blunt, who like Khan is gay, questioned the conviction, but later announced he would quit his Reigate seat at the next election following an outcry at his intervention.
But in a new interview with BBC One’s Politics South East programme, he stands by his earlier defence of Khan, who was thrown out of the Conservative Party and resigned his seat following the verdict. A by-election will be held in Wakefield next month.
Reflecting on his initial statement, Mr Blunt said: ‘I didn’t know Imran – I got to know him in the first few weeks of 2019 and 2020 and thoroughly enjoyed his company and could well see why he’d be a terrific parliamentarian with an enormous amount to contribute.
‘And so this issue, then, arising for me is … his conviction. And I don’t want to … I saw what happened (at the trial). I remain totally convinced.’
Mr Blunt admitted he did not attend the whole trial, but said: ‘I know what decisions were made within the trial, which meant that, in my judgment, he did not get a fair trial or anything remotely like that.’
Pressed on whether he still believes that now, he said: ‘Yes, I do.’
His new comments, which are likely to attract more criticism, come amid a swirl of sexual misconduct claims surrounding Parliamentarians.
Last night it was claimed a senior Conservative MP has been accused of plying four men with date-rape drugs, with a fellow Tory saying he woke up to find his nipples being licked.
Former Justice Minister Crispin Blunt was widely criticised last month for defending Imran Ahmad Khan, after the Wakefield MP was convicted of sexual assaulting the 15-year-old.
But in a new interview with BBC One’s Politics South East programme, he stands by his earlier defence of Khan, who was thrown out of the Conservative Party and resigned his seat following the verdict.
The other alleged victims are a Labour MP, the flatmate of a different Tory MP and another man.
Rumours have reportedly been swirling in Westminster about the Conservative MP’s actions.
‘The name of this alleged attacker is being spoken about openly among Conservative MPs,’ a source told The Mirror.
‘If he is innocent, he should refer himself to police and our internal complaints procedure so allegations can be investigated to clear his name.’
A senior Conservative MP has been accused of plying four men with date-rape drugs, with a fellow Tory MP saying he woke up to find his nipples being licked
An MP added: ‘No wonder he has been looking so dreadful recently with this hanging over him.’
These are the latest in a string of sexual harassment allegations made against MPs.
More than 50 MPs have faced investigations into alleged inappropriate behaviour in just four years since 2018.
Just last week an unnamed Tory MP was arrested and bailed by the Met Police, which is investigating claims of rape, sexual and indecent assault as well as abuse of a position of trust and misconduct in public office over the space of seven years.
Chief Whip Chris Heaton-Harris has asked that unnamed MP to stay away from Parliament during the probe.
A whips office spokesman said: ‘The Chief Whip has asked that the MP concerned does not attend the Parliamentary Estate while an investigation is ongoing.
‘Until the conclusion of the investigation we will not be commenting further.’
The arrest came on the day the Conservatives officially triggered by-election contests to replace two MPs.
A contest in Wakefield follows Khan’s resignation. Tory Neil Parish quit his Tiverton and Honiton seat after he admitted watching pornography in the Commons.
Tory chief whip Chris Heaton-Harris (pictured) urged a different MP to stay away from Parliament after different allegations of a sexual nature were made
Farmer Mr Parish first said he accidentally viewed one X-rated video when browsing for tractors, before later doing so deliberately in the Commons chamber.
In 2020 former Tory MP Charlie Elphicke was sentenced to two years in prison after being found guilty of three counts of sexual assault against two women.
He was convicted in relation to a parliamentary worker in 2016 and a woman at his family’s London home in 2007.
Last year ex-Labour MP Mike Hill resigned after a former parliamentary worker alleged he sexually harassed and bullied her over a 16-month period, groping her and rubbing himself against her.
Mr Hill denied the allegations, but a central London employment tribunal upheld claims of ‘detrimental treatment’ over a 16-month period, judging that ‘spiteful or retaliatory’ acts followed the woman’s rejection of his sexual advances.
Following today’s allegations, a spokesman for the Government said: ‘We take all allegations seriously.’
