Tory MP Charlie Elphicke suspended after ‘serious allegations’ referred to police
New Chief Whip Julian Smith said: “I have suspended the Conservative Party whip from Charlie Elphicke MP following serious allegations that have been referred to the police.”
A pal of Mr Elphicke's told The Sun: "Charlie is adamant that he has done nothing wrong."
Tonight, the 46-year-old married backbencher tweeted: "The party tipped off the press before telling me of my suspension.
"I am not aware of what the alleged claims are and deny any wrongdoing."
The decision to suspend the MP came after the Tory whips' office contacted at least one complainant, according to the i newspaper.
The whips office is now cooperating with the police after a complaint was lodged.
The complainant is believed to be a young Tory activist.
Mr Elphicke has been Dover's MP since 2010 and is a member of the Commons Treasury Select Committee.
It comes as Westminster is rocked by the revelation of a dirty dossier containing allegations against numerous MPs - which has already seen suspensions and resignations.
Yesterday Michael Fallon resigned from his position as Defence Secretary after admitting that he touched female journalist Julia Hartley-Brewer's knee — as details emerge of sexual harassment complaints against dozens of politicians.
The Tory admitted his behaviour in the past had "fallen short" after he was accused of misconduct.
Brexit minister Mark Garnier admitted calling his secretary "sugar t*ts" and taking her to buy him vibrators in Soho and it emerged former cabinet minister Stephen Crabb sent sexually explicit messages to a 19-year-old woman who applied to work in his Commons office.
But a number of those mentioned in the full document - Dominic Raab and Rory Stewart - have hit back at the claims the behaved inappropriately.
It emerged today that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was quizzed on his decision to promote an MP at the centre of allegations of sexual harassment, according to reports.
The party’s chief whip Dame Rosie Winterton reportedly phoned Corbyn’s office back in July 2016 to query why Kelvin Hopkins had been appointed to the shadow cabinet.
She flagged up that Mr Hopkins had been reprimanded for harassing a young activist, a Labour source has told the .