MP Julian Knight lashes out at 'unjustified' suspension of Tory whip

Senior MP Julian Knight to stay away from Parliament after losing Tory whip over police complaint – but lashes out at ‘wrong and unjustified’ action by party bosses and blasts ‘campaign of rumour and innuendo’ against him

• Julian Knight reveals he will stay away from Parliament after police complaint
• The senior MP has been suspended from the Conservative parliamentary party
• The Solihull MP lashes out at the ‘wrong and unjustified’ action by party bosses 

Senior MP Julian Knight today revealed he will stay away from Parliament after being reported to police.

The 50-year-old was last night dramatically suspended from the Tory parliamentary party after a complaint was made to Scotland Yard.

But – although he said he would ‘recuse’ himself from Parliament ‘until the matter is resolved’ – the Solihull MP lashed out at party bosses for their ‘wrong and unjustified’ action.

In a series of Twitter posts, Mr Knight revealed he had ‘heard nothing’ from the police, the whips’ office or parliamentary officials, or been the subject of any investigation.

He also claimed 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 and fumed at ‘blackmail’ threats.

Mr Knight is chair of the House of Commons’ Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee.

He did not show up this morning when the committee quizzed bosses of the Arts Council England, with Labour MP Julie Elliott deputising for him during the session.

Julian Knight has been dramatically suspended from the Tory parliamentary party after a complaint was made to Scotland Yard

The Solihull MP lashed out at party bosses for their ‘wrong and unjustified’ action in a series of Twitter posts

Chief Whip Simon Hart suspended Mr Knight with ‘immediate effect’ after a complaint was made to the Met Police

By having the Tory whip suspended, Mr Knight will now sit as an independent MP in the Commons.

A spokeswoman for Government Chief Whip Simon Hart last night said the whip had been removed from Mr Knight with ‘immediate effect’ after ‘a complaint was made to the Metropolitan Police this evening’.

Posting on Twitter this morning, Mr Knight hit out at the decision to strip the Tory whip from him.

‘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,’ he wrote.

‘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.

‘Some months ago I accepted the resignation of a staff member following a full enquiry into his conduct regarding House of Commons security issues and, separately, allegations of bullying against him.

‘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.’

The Tory whips’ office did not comment on Mr Knight’s criticism, although a party source insisted Mr Hart was in contact with him last night.

Mr Knight’s suspension is the latest in a series of blows for Rishi Sunak, who vowed to lead the country with ‘integrity’ when he became Tory leader and Prime Minister in October.

Former health secretary Matt Hancock was also stripped of the Tory whip when he flew out to Australia to film ITV’s I’m A Celebrity show.

Gavin Williamson resigned as a Government minister last month amid ‘bullying’ allegations.

And Mr Sunak has also had to accept a request by Dominic Raab, the deputy PM, to order an independent probe into claims about his treatment of officials.

There are now 15 MPs sitting in the Commons, a number of whom have had their party’s whip suspended due to disciplinary reasons, which is more than the total number of Liberal Democrat MPs.

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