Tory MP Charlie Elphicke charged with sexual assault

Tory MP Charlie Elphicke has been charged with sexually assaulting two women. Elphicke, who represents Dover, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 6 September. The allegations relate to three incidents in 2007 and 2016. Elphicke, 49, was suspended from the Conservative party in November 2017. In December last year, the MP had the whip restored ahead of a no-confidence vote in Theresa May. The Crown Prosecution Service released the following statement this morning:

‘The Crown Prosecution Service has today charged Charles Elphicke, MP for Dover, with three charges of sexual assault against two women. The CPS made the decision to charge Mr Elphicke after reviewing a file of evidence from the Metropolitan police. The CPS reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Mr Elphicke are now active and that he has a right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.