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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Charlie Elphicke: Tory MP charged with sexual assault | Charlie Elphicke: Tory MP charged with sexual assault |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A Conservative MP has been charged with three counts of sexual assault against two women. | A Conservative MP has been charged with three counts of sexual assault against two women. |
| Charlie Elphicke, the MP for Dover, is alleged to have assaulted one woman in 2007 and a second woman twice in 2016. | Charlie Elphicke, the MP for Dover, is alleged to have assaulted one woman in 2007 and a second woman twice in 2016. |
| Mr Elphicke, 48, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 6 September. | Mr Elphicke, 48, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 6 September. |
| A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said it had made the decision to charge Mr Elphicke "after reviewing a file of evidence from the Metropolitan Police". | A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said it had made the decision to charge Mr Elphicke "after reviewing a file of evidence from the Metropolitan Police". |
| Mr Elphicke will sit as an independent MP in the House of Commons after the Conservative Party again suspended the party whip following the charges. | |
| MP 'confident' | |
| He was originally suspended from the party in November 2017 after "serious allegations" against him were referred to police. | |
| But he had the whip reinstated in December 2018 for a vote of confidence in Theresa May. | But he had the whip reinstated in December 2018 for a vote of confidence in Theresa May. |
| The Tories' majority in the Commons, where the party has the support of the DUP, is now down to two, with the prospect of a further cut if the party loses a by-election in Brecon and Radnorshire on 1 August. | |
| In a statement, the MP's solicitor Ellen Peart said: "Charlie Elphicke has said from the outset that he denies any wrongdoing. | In a statement, the MP's solicitor Ellen Peart said: "Charlie Elphicke has said from the outset that he denies any wrongdoing. |
| "He will defend himself vigorously and is confident that he will clear his name." | "He will defend himself vigorously and is confident that he will clear his name." |
| Mr Elphicke has represented his constituency since 2010 and was a government whip from 2015 to 2016. | Mr Elphicke has represented his constituency since 2010 and was a government whip from 2015 to 2016. |