[Closed] Another day, another MP suspended

And Ariston?

So, err, what’s he (allegedly) done? Why is his being married relevant?

Perhaps the pig was still alive?

And referred to the police so it must be serious and credible

Patel is also in big trouble over the Israel visit and whinges that the foreign office are briefing against her

Its like rats fighting in a sack. Makes the last days of Major look like a well order government. Odds on an election before brexit must be getting shorter

I can see north Luton needing a by election soon

Patel Could be in real trouble if they prove she broke parliament codes on that *holiday what was she thinking that it would not come out even being in the same room as some of the people she met should have caused her to think how it reflected on her role.
Rule no1 don't upset civil service top brass

Am told @CharlieElphicke was reported to whips not long after @theresa_may became PM. Woman who reported him didn’t want to involve police

From Twitter

Odds on an election before brexit must be getting shorter

I really hope you are right. 🙁

I've said it before & until I'm convinced otherwise I'll say it again,
Politicians...dodgy, the lot of them.

I blame Adam Sandler.

And some folk argue that these Fwits should have more of a role in running businesses/our lives etc

How incredible is that???

Elphicke, Lewis, Hopkins & farron all denying it too.

Maybe theyre innocent but I'm not convinced, just feels like more lies and abuse to me

From Twitter

How incredible is that???

Why you hate politicians and think business leaders are paragons of virtue is nothing more than an act of faith based on your own biases

Power corrupts who wields it is irrelevant and the market often makes the shit float to the top not the best.

Thank **** the real wrong-ens aren't in charge of anything eh.

Where is JHJ - this stuff must be right up his street

I bet an awful lot more is to come out yet

Oddly isn't his broadband dead

Twitter is no more news than me quoting someone on here

Oddly isn't his broadband dead

Makes you think eh

Also in the telegraph, which to be fair is about as reliable as Twitter http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/11/03/tory-mp-charlie-elphicke-suspended-referred-police-following/amp/

Surely our (soon to be disgraced former) defence secretary [s]fox[/s] [s]fallon[/s] williamson must have been aware of this for a year, having been chief whip
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Just been arguing with a twit on twitter who reckons it's all a plot by remainers to stop Brexit

Goodness me they really are representative of the benighted masses portrayed by the tabloids. Sexual misconduct as well as numerous other indiscretions, hmmmm whatever next from our betters.

Even when it's come from one of the Channel 4 news team?

More credible now obvs as I assume their reporting is more accurate than yours 😉
why did you not say Channel 4 news saying?

He was on the list...

With a majority that slim it must be difficult to suspend one. Did labour pull a smart “card” earlier in the week by “defining the expected punishment” for rumours under investigation?

suspending the whip does not put the majority in danger. They can still vote as independents and will follow the party line to try to get back in favour. Only if they resign or are recalled a an MP is May in danger of losing her majority

She doesn’t have a majority, she bought some wiggle room off a group that had links to terrorism.

That’s been widely report and confirmed.

It's all part of a bigger long-term plan by women to take over parliament and run the country. Who ever thought to let women into the houses of parliament in the first place, eh?!? A flutter of the eyelids and man self-destructs.

I’m not sure what is and isnt true in terms of individuals but overall you do get the impression this government is a bit shambolic.

From the Priti Patel story:

Lord Polak told the BBC that he just happened to be on holiday at the same time as Ms Patel.

Sir Roger Gale, Conservative MP for North Thanet, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it would be wrong to "rush to judgement" before there is proof of wrongdoing, warning against a "witch hunt".
He said: "We're in danger of getting into a situation where nobody half bright, half sensible, half decent, will want to go into the House of Commons - and that will not be good for democracy.

Jesus Christ on a bike. Are these people for real?

So Leadsom made up the accusation against Fallon to save her own skin, in a personal spat?

Dear god! This is what now passes for a government in this country, is it?

May now looks like a crap supply teacher trying to keep control of a particularly unruly class in an inner city comp

I thought people wanted our politicians to be more like the so-called "real people". Well here's proof on both sides of the house, they are as sleazy as the rest of us. Allegedly we even have some real rapists in the house too. An even more representative cross section.

But before we get all morall righteous on here, look look at all the mildly sexist threads that go unmoderated and that admissions from certain posters to have done the same things on a recent thread !

Where's the last stone to cast.....

If it were an inner city comp, someone would've stabbed jezzer by now.

And at least two of the girls would be preggers.

So its 2 - 2 at the moment

Conservatives; Fallon and Elphicke

Labour; Lewis and Hopkins

Wonder if its being managed, as neither party wants to lose MPs at a faster rate.
Still not seen an explanation from Corbyn on why he appointed Hopkins knowing this issue existed

We have still to do cabinet or shadow cabinet positions given in return for (allegedly) past “favours” or blatant nepotism.

Still not seen an explanation from Corbyn on why he appointed Hopkins knowing this issue existed

Desperation, wasn’t he struggling to find enough loyal MPs to complete his shadow cabinet at the time?

Ah right - yes of course!

Are these people for real?

We need actual trials not trial by ordeal or a witch hunt and we are in danger of knee jerk reactions - well intentioned as they are they are not helpful IMHO

Its a serious issue hysteria - or downright denial - are equally unhepful

Conversely I think it’s a bit hysterical to suggest that anyone half decent, or half intelligent won’t want to become an MP due to the threat of a sexual harassment claim. The fact that an MP made a public statement to this effect shows how, yet again, these people are hopelessly out of touch.i recall a similar line being trotted out during the expenses scandal

I am not saying i agree with that aspect of the statement[ you re correct it wont stop folk becoming Mp's and the statement is hysterical] I just think we need to remember due process.

Agree.

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and for those without a magnifying glass I think this is the link for that one
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/commentisfree/2017/nov/04/michael-fallon-lunged-at-me-jane-merrick
A pattern of behaviour that has been going on for too long.

Hopkins response to allegations ( denies rubbing on her , admits to.creepy text, implies she was angling for a job?)

1. My first recollection of ever meeting Ava was at the Labour Party Conference in Manchester in September 2014. She was one of approximately 10 party activists who had been present at a fringe reception and who accompanied me and my daughter to an evening meal in Manchester for activists and supporters. She introduced herself as the Chair of Labour Students at Essex University and she joined in the general conversation around the dining table. As I usually do, I let her have my contact details.

2. I next came across Ava when I was canvassing in support of the Labour candidate in the Clacton-on Sea by-election on 9 October 2014. She was one of a number of Labour Party activists who joined me in leafleting and door knocking. I had no prior knowledge at all that Ava would be in Clacton for the by-election. I had a general chat with her about the by-election in the company of the other campaigners.

3. On 11 October 2014 Ava sent me a text message:

“Hi Kelvin, how are you? I was wondering if you would like to come to University of Essex to speak in one of our Labour society socials this term? x Ava”.

4. I then arranged, through the secretary of the student Labour society at Essex University, to speak at Essex on 12 November 2014. I arrived at Colchester mid-afternoon as the social event was due to start at 4.15 pm. I gave my speech to the students. It was a well received talk and involved a lively questions and answers debate with those who were there. After the event, Ava walked me to my car in the car park at the university. There were many people in the general area.

5. The allegation has been made and reported in the press that I “hugged her [Ava] inappropriately” (eg Telegraph newspaper 3 November 2017). Ava is reported to have said, “He hugged me to say goodbye, held me too tight and rubbed his crotch on me, which I found revolting”.

6. I absolutely and categorically deny that I in any way engaged in any such inappropriate conduct. I simply put an arm around her shoulder to give her a brief slight hug just before getting in to my car. I did not hold her tight. I did not rub any part of my body, let alone my crotch, against Ava. She waved me off as I drove away and did not say anything whatsoever to suggest that anything had occurred that upset her let alone revolted her. In fact after I left the University, Ava sent me a text message during the same evening of 12 November timed at 9 pm saying:

“Thank you so much Kelvin for coming tonight!! We had a fantastic time. My members loved you! You’re a star! x Ava”

7. On 15 December 2014 Ava sent me a text message:

“Hi Kelvin, how are you? Could you please send me your post address? I’d like to send you a Christmas card. x Ava”.

8. I gave her my address as House of Commons, Westminster London SW1A 0AA. Her card arrived on 17 December.

9. When I had visited Essex University I had made an invite to the students to visit the House of Commons. I often take groups and individuals on tours of the Palace of Westminster and often dine with my guests in the House. Arrangements were made for a group of about 8 students to come to Westminster early in 2015. I believe the group trip was cancelled but Ava still wanted to visit and came to Westminster on 2 February 2015. It is reported in the press that at that meeting I asked questions about her personal life and that I made her uncomfortable with a suggestion that I would have liked to take her to my office if it were empty. I have no recollection whatsoever of such conversations. I recall the meeting lasting about 2 hours including dining in the Strangers Dining Room which was buzzing with very many other parliamentarians and their guests also having lunch. Shortly after leaving Westminster Ava sent me the following text message on 2 February at 14:50:

“Thank you, Kelvin for today. It was lovely meeting you!xx”

10. On 16 February 2015 I did send a text message to Ava which included the reported words saying Ava was “charming and sweet natured” and that “a nice young man would be lucky to have you as a girlfriend and lover…Were I to be young…but I am not…”. She in fact replied to my text on the same day:

“Oh thank you Kelvin for such kind words. I was ill last week for a couple of days and also I had run for NUS delegate – they announced the results and I got elected with the highest number of votes!! So sorry if I couldn’t speak to you last week x”

11. My only contact with Ava since then was about a year ago when she made contact with me to discuss working in Westminster. She told me that she had applied for a job with a Labour MP and that although she had been shortlisted to the final 2 for the job she nevertheless did not get it. She wanted my advice on how she could possibly have done better. I called her from parliament and advised her that jobs with MPs are difficult to get and I told her for example that my office had no vacancies. I advised her that she should also think about working as a member of staff of the House of Commons and should think about the civil service. I also suggested that as she is bi-lingual (Ava is fluent in Farsi) she could also think about working with the Foreign Office. Our conversation was friendly.

12. I have had no contact with Ava since then and was shocked when I saw the allegations appear online last night and in the papers today. I have always wished and still do wish, Ava the very best of luck in pursuing the career in politics that she wants to follow. I am happy to fully cooperate with the Labour Party to bring to a swift conclusion the investigation that is now being carried out into my conduct.

Press Enquiries:

Martin Howe (Senior Partner) partners@howe.co.uk

 

Murdoch obviously wants rid of May

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While the Mail attacks the woman that accused Green of touching her

Hopkins response to allegations ( denies rubbing on her , admits to.creepy text, implies she was angling for a job?)