POLICE have confirmed they have dropped an investigation into sexual assault accusations made against a former Tory MP.
Julian Knight, who was suspended from the Conservative Party over the case but remains an MP, has always strongly denied the allegation.
Scotland Yard received an allegation of serious sexual assault on October 28 last year, and on December 7 a further referral relating to the incident was made and an investigation into Knight, 51, was launched.
The Conservatives have said they will not bring him back into the fold - citing "further complaints" made to the Whips Office.
Knight has since claimed there is a "witch hunt" against him.
He said: "This statement from the Chief Whip smacks of 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 police have confirmed today that there is no evidence to support that allegation and closed their investigation. They did not even need to interview me to do so.
“Yet the Whips Office now seems intent on continuing a witch hunt against me in an attempt to prevent my naming names.”
In an earlier statement, Knight 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.
“In publicly naming me in connection with the allegation, the Conservative Whips Office acted disgracefully and in breach of natural justice by removing my anonymity. Their actions meant my name was dragged through the mud and my good reputation immeasurably damaged.
“The conduct of one person in the Whips Office, and the language used towards me, was particularly egregious.
“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.”
Knight, who had recused himself from Parliament until the case was resolved, said he was looking forward to the “immediate return” of the party whip.
The Solihull MP is the chairman of the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee and has represented the constituency since 2015.
Knight had last month complained to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley about the handling of the allegation, writing to the police chief to call the investigation “flawed and fundamentally unjust”.
A spokeswoman for the Conservative 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.”
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: "On October 28, 2022, police received allegations of serious sexual assault against un-named victims reported to have taken place on unknown dates at undisclosed locations.
"On December 7, 2022, a further referral relating to the incident[s] was made and an investigation was launched.
"Police are no longer proceeding with an investigation. There have been no arrests."
