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| Nigel Evans quits as deputy speaker amid sex charges | Nigel Evans quits as deputy speaker amid sex charges |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| MP Nigel Evans has resigned as Commons Deputy Speaker, after being charged with offences including sexual assault, indecent assault and rape against seven men. | |
| Mr Evans is accused of eight offences in total dating between 2002 and 2013, the Crown Prosecution Service said. | Mr Evans is accused of eight offences in total dating between 2002 and 2013, the Crown Prosecution Service said. |
| The 55-year-old MP for Ribble Valley denies any wrongdoing and pledged to continue to represent his constituents from the backbenches. | The 55-year-old MP for Ribble Valley denies any wrongdoing and pledged to continue to represent his constituents from the backbenches. |
| He said the claims were "incredulous". | He said the claims were "incredulous". |
| 'Continue to work' | 'Continue to work' |
| In a statement to reporters after being charged, he said: "May I reassure everyone at this time that I will robustly defend my innocence. | In a statement to reporters after being charged, he said: "May I reassure everyone at this time that I will robustly defend my innocence. |
| "I have today answered bail following complaints I have said were incredulous. | "I have today answered bail following complaints I have said were incredulous. |
| "Whilst I am saddened that this case has not been closed today, I am certain of two things: firstly that I am innocent, and secondly that my innocence will be demonstrated. | "Whilst I am saddened that this case has not been closed today, I am certain of two things: firstly that I am innocent, and secondly that my innocence will be demonstrated. |
| "Having informed my fellow deputy Speakers Lindsay Hoyle and Dawn Primarolo, my association chairman and staff, I can confirm I will now resign as deputy speaker. | "Having informed my fellow deputy Speakers Lindsay Hoyle and Dawn Primarolo, my association chairman and staff, I can confirm I will now resign as deputy speaker. |
| "However, I will continue to work hard for the people of Ribble Valley from the backbenches where I first started my political career in 1992." | "However, I will continue to work hard for the people of Ribble Valley from the backbenches where I first started my political career in 1992." |
| 'Media interest' | 'Media interest' |
| He pledged to do his best to tackle local problems such as the "crisis of extra house-building" and cuts to rural bus services. | He pledged to do his best to tackle local problems such as the "crisis of extra house-building" and cuts to rural bus services. |
| Mr Evans finished: "I appreciate that this case will create a great deal of media interest, but after today I will not be making any further comment until after the case concludes." | Mr Evans finished: "I appreciate that this case will create a great deal of media interest, but after today I will not be making any further comment until after the case concludes." |
| Mr Evans was a Conservative MP before becoming deputy speaker, a politically neutral role, but he has not sought to return to the Conservative fold in the Commons and will sit as an independent backbencher, Tory sources said. | |
| The director of public prosecutions for England and Wales said the decision to charge Mr Evans had been taken after careful consideration. | The director of public prosecutions for England and Wales said the decision to charge Mr Evans had been taken after careful consideration. |
| Keir Starmer added: "We have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and that it is in the public interest to prosecute. | Keir Starmer added: "We have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and that it is in the public interest to prosecute. |
| "Lancashire Constabulary has therefore been authorised to charge two counts of indecent assault, five counts of sexual assault and one count of rape relating to a total of seven alleged victims." | "Lancashire Constabulary has therefore been authorised to charge two counts of indecent assault, five counts of sexual assault and one count of rape relating to a total of seven alleged victims." |
| Mr Evans is expected to appear before Preston Magistrates' Court on 18 September. | Mr Evans is expected to appear before Preston Magistrates' Court on 18 September. |
| The two indecent assaults are alleged to have been committed between 1 January 2002 and 1 January 2004, the five sexual assaults allegedly happened between 1 January 2009 and 1 April 2013, and the alleged rape between 29 March and 1 April 2013. | The two indecent assaults are alleged to have been committed between 1 January 2002 and 1 January 2004, the five sexual assaults allegedly happened between 1 January 2009 and 1 April 2013, and the alleged rape between 29 March and 1 April 2013. |
| Mr Evans, from Pendleton in Lancashire, answered bail on Tuesday having previously been arrested in May and June. | Mr Evans, from Pendleton in Lancashire, answered bail on Tuesday having previously been arrested in May and June. |
| He was re-arrested and interviewed by detectives throughout the day before being charged in the evening. | He was re-arrested and interviewed by detectives throughout the day before being charged in the evening. |
| In May, Mr Evans dismissed the original allegations against him as "completely false", and said they had been made by two people he had "regarded as friends". | In May, Mr Evans dismissed the original allegations against him as "completely false", and said they had been made by two people he had "regarded as friends". |
| He was elected as one of three Commons deputy Speakers in 2010. | He was elected as one of three Commons deputy Speakers in 2010. |