More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
MP Charlie Elphicke says he was having supper with his mother when he is alleged to have sexually touched a woman.
He also denies a second accusation that he "lunged" at another woman in a lift, Mail Online reports this weekend.
The Dover and Deal MP claims the second woman, in fact, kept inviting him to socialise, signing a text with a friendly "X."
The details of the allegations, and Mr Elphicke's denials, were published in the national newspaper late last night (Saturday).
Mr Elphicke, who has not been arrested, declined to comment on the article when his office was contacted by KentOnline today.
He has had the Conservative Party whip suspended since last November 3 and was interviewed by police on March 12 over alleged sexual offences.
They have been described as "low level sexual harrassment" by friends.
One claim reported in Mail Onlne is that Mr Elphicke sexually touched an ex-aide in spring 2016 when they had been drinking champagne.
Mt Elphicke said he spent that evening having supper with his mother and has emails to prove it.
Mail Online reports that the woman had been in dispute with Mr Elphicke over wages. She was given her full entitlement and she withdrew the accusations in January 2017.
The second allegation, of lunging, is said to have happened in a Commons lft after drinks in the Houses of Parliament in May 2015.
Mr Elphicke, 47, a married father-of-two, says that woman, a lobbyist, stayed in touch with him after the alleged incident, signing off at least one text message with an "x."
A third allegation, against him, of rape, is also vehemently denied and Mr Elphicke's solicitor says that had never been brought up by police when they interviewed him on March 12.
Mr Elphicke was suspended by Chief Whip Julian Smith on the evening of Friday, November 3.
The MP says he was not told why at the time.
It was at a time when Westminster was reeling from multiple claims of sexually harrassment and bullying by MPs. This erupted in October.
Mr Elphicke says it was in the interview in March that police first told him of accusations leading to his suspension.
Conservative MP Bob Stewart is quoted in Mail Online as saying: "It is absolutely appalling that Charlie has lost the whip for nearly six months.
"This matter should have been resolved long ago."
