DCMS Committee Chair suspended by party
December 8, 2022
By Colin Mann
Conservative MP Julian Knight, who chairs the UK House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, has had the party whip removed “with immediate effect” after a complaint was made to the Metropolitan Police, the party has said. Knight has represented Solihull in the West Midlands since 2015.
A spokeswoman for Chief Whip Simon Hart said: “Following a complaint made to the Metropolitan Police this evening, we have removed the whip from Julian Knight MP with immediate effect.”
She declined to comment on the nature of the complaint now it is under investigation.
In a Statement, Knight said: “I have heard nothing from the police, the Whips Office or Parliament’s Internal Grievance Service, or been the subject of any investigation by the latter. Nor have I ever been warned or spoken to by the Whip’s office about any allegations of misconduct. I believe their withdrawal of the whip is wrong and unjustified. Some months ago I accepted the resignation of a staff member following a full enquiry into his conduct regarding House of Commons security issues and, separately, allegations of bullying against him. Subsequently, I have received what my lawyers advise are explicit threats involving blackmail as well as being at the centre of a campaign of rumour and innuendo. All matters are now with my lawyers and I will be recusing myself from Parliament until the matter is resolved.”