Imran Ahmad Khan

A former Conservative justice minister has been branded “completely inappropriate” for questioning the jury conviction of his fellow MP Imran Ahmad Khan.

“I sat through some of the trial. “Unless overturned on appeal, the jury verdict following the summing up has to be respected.” Sir Peter Bottomley, the father of the House of Commons who also attended court on Monday, said the final jury verdict should be “respected”. The veteran Tory MP said he chose to attend the trial “most days” as “no-one should be alone in court”. In a statement published on his website, Mr Blunt, who came out as gay in 2010, said the jury’s decision was “nothing short of an international scandal”. But Mr Blunt, who was at the London court on Monday, said the case “relied on lazy tropes about LGBT+ people” and argued the result had “dreadful wider implications” for LGBT Muslims “around the world”.

The Wakefield MP's legal team has vowed to appeal against the conviction, a move that could delay a potential by-election.

A recall petition cannot be launched if a general election is due within the next six months. In the UK, the Recall of MPs Act 2015, which came into force in March 2016, allows for an MP to lose their seat and a by-election to be held if a local petition to recall them is successful. Recall only applies to MPs and a petition can only be started if any one of three conditions is met: According to the House of Commons Library, recall is a process whereby voters can trigger a special election to remove their MP outside of the scheduled election dates. If he is unsuccessful in appealing he would be subject to a recall petition. In the event of a sentence of less than a year he would be allowed to continue as an MP and appeal.

The Wakefield MP's legal team has vowed to appeal against the conviction, a move that could delay a potential by-election.

A recall petition cannot be launched if a general election is due within the next six months. In the UK, the Recall of MPs Act 2015, which came into force in March 2016, allows for an MP to lose their seat and a by-election to be held if a local petition to recall them is successful. Recall only applies to MPs and a petition can only be started if any one of three conditions is met: According to the House of Commons Library, recall is a process whereby voters can trigger a special election to remove their MP outside of the scheduled election dates. If he is unsuccessful in appealing he would be subject to a recall petition. In the event of a sentence of less than a year he would be allowed to continue as an MP and appeal.

Crispin Blunt has been urged to quit his role as chairman of a cross-party group on LGBT rights following the remarks.

“I sat through some of the trial. “Unless overturned on appeal, the jury verdict following the summing up has to be respected.” Sir Peter Bottomley, the father of the House of Commons who also attended court on Monday, said the final jury verdict should be “respected”. The veteran Tory MP said he chose to attend the trial “most days” as “no-one should be alone in court”. In a statement published on his website, Mr Blunt, who came out as gay in 2010, said the jury’s decision was “nothing short of an international scandal”. But Mr Blunt, who was at the London court on Monday, said the case “relied on lazy tropes about LGBT+ people” and argued the result had “dreadful wider implications” for LGBT Muslims “around the world”.

A Conservative MP has come under fire after claiming the conviction of a fellow MP was a "dreadful miscarriage of justice”.

“I sat through some of the trial. Ms Cherry tweeted that Mr Blunt’s statement was the “last straw” for her membership of the group and that she intended to resign on Tuesday. Ms Cherry tweeted that Mr Blunt’s statement was the “last straw” for her membership of the group and that she intended to resign on Tuesday. But Mr Blunt, who was at the London court on Monday, said the case “relied on lazy tropes about LGBT+ people” and argued the result had “dreadful wider implications” for LGBT Muslims “around the world”. Urging Mr Blunt to quit as APPG chairman, Mr McDonald tweeted: “Parliament needs a respected and robust LGBT group and Crispin can no longer provide that leadership. Urging Mr Blunt to quit as APPG chairman, Mr McDonald tweeted: “Parliament needs a respected and robust LGBT group and Crispin can no longer provide that leadership.

Tory MP quits as chair of parliamentary group and withdraws comment criticising conviction of colleague.

“It is completely inappropriate for a member of parliament to start attacking the judicial process like this,’” he said. Khan was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy and has been expelled from the party. “I am sorry that my defence of him has been a cause of significant upset and concern not least to victims of sexual offences,” he said.

The senior Tory said: "I am sorry that my defence of him has been a cause of significant upset and concern not least to victims of sexual offences."

Speaking afterwards, he said: “It was not the verdict I anticipated. The ex-Dover MP served half his sentence and was released in September 2021. I have today offered the officers my resignation so a new Chair can be found to continue the work of the group with full force.” Armed Forces Minister James Heappey told Sky News: “He [Mr Khan] has been convicted. It was not my intention to do this. we expect our patrons to share this ethos.”

Former Youth Justice Minister Crispin Blunt (pictured) jumped to the defence today of Tory MP and sex offender Imran Ahmad Khan.

He continued: 'I explained that Imran Khan was running for MP and had just sort of been hurriedly put through. I said 'I'm going to the police', and she said 'Well, you do that'.' Khan, who is gay and a Muslim, had also made a lewd comment about the boy's older brother who was wearing a kilt. No further action had been taken because the youngster did not want to make a formal complaint. I wasn't taken very seriously.' 'I also contacted the Tory press office, trying to inform them what had happened. Khan appeared wearing a dark suit holding a walking stick and showed no emotion when hearing his guilty verdict this afternoon. Khan's 15-year-old victim told a court that he 'vividly' remembered the gin bottle Khan took to the party, the smell of the spirit in the glass tumbler, and the fizz of the bubbles as he was forced by Khan to drink the cocktail. 'I sat through some of the trial. It has also emerged that Khan tweeted in support of press freedom on the day he tried to gag the media from reporting his name over a charge of sexually assaulting a schoolboy. The full details of how the story finally came to be told can be reported for the first time after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy after a party in 2008. It has also emerged that Khan tweeted in support of press freedom on the day he tried to gag the media from reporting his name over a charge of sexually assaulting a schoolboy.

A former Conservative justice minister has been branded “completely inappropriate” for questioning the jury conviction of his fellow MP Imran Ahmad Khan.

“I sat through some of the trial. “Unless overturned on appeal, the jury verdict following the summing up has to be respected.” Sir Peter Bottomley, the father of the House of Commons who also attended court on Monday, said the final jury verdict should be “respected”. The veteran Tory MP said he chose to attend the trial “most days” as “no-one should be alone in court”. In a statement published on his website, Mr Blunt, who came out as gay in 2010, said the jury’s decision was “nothing short of an international scandal”. But Mr Blunt, who was at the London court on Monday, said the case “relied on lazy tropes about LGBT+ people” and argued the result had “dreadful wider implications” for LGBT Muslims “around the world”.

The MP for Reigate and former minister has sparked outrage after describing the conviction of his Conservative colleague Imran Ahmad Khan 'dreadful ...

Speaking afterwards, he said: “It was not the verdict I anticipated. Armed Forces Minister James Heappey also took this view on Tuesday, and told Sky News: “He [Mr Khan] has been convicted. The Conservative MP for Worthing West and the father of the House of Commons chose to attend the trial “most days” and said “no one should be alone in court”. “His seat in the House of Commons is his until he personally chooses to vacate it.” When asked if the Government distances itself from the comments made by Mr Blunt, he replied “yes” and added: “I think it is for Crispin to account for his words.” The former minister described the verdict as a “dreadful miscarriage of justice” and added: “His conviction is nothing short of an international scandal.”

The MP for Reigate has sparked outrage after describing the conviction of his colleague Imran Ahmad Khan a 'dreadful miscarriage of justice'

Speaking afterwards, he said: “It was not the verdict I anticipated. Armed Forces Minister James Heappey also took this view on Tuesday, and told Sky News: “He [Mr Khan] has been convicted. The Conservative MP for Worthing West and the father of the House of Commons chose to attend the trial “most days” and said “no one should be alone in court”. “His seat in the House of Commons is his until he personally chooses to vacate it.” When asked if the Government distances itself from the comments made by Mr Blunt, he replied “yes” and added: “I think it is for Crispin to account for his words.” The former minister described the verdict as a “dreadful miscarriage of justice” and added: “His conviction is nothing short of an international scandal.”

Press Gazette has been reporting on British journalism without fear or favour since 1965. Our mission is to provide a news and information service which ...

The “evidence” ran to more than 200 pages, including claims a bullet was found in his constituency office in January 2020, dozens of tweets, including one of a noose, and reference to the murders of MPs Jo Cox and Sir David Amess. Imran Ahmad Khan argued that as an Ahmadi Muslim, both the consumption of alcohol and homosexuality are strictly prohibited within his faith, and the reporting of those matters would expose him to “a risk to his safety both here and abroad”. His lawyers said that as a serving MP there were concerns about his safety and argued he should not be named in court because it would breach his right to life (Article 2), protection from “inhuman or degrading treatment” (Article 3) and right to a private life (Article 8) under the European Convention of Human Rights. “Damage to reputation is not a ground for making of an order, open justice is and should remain a corner stone of democracy and the rule of law,” he said. The full details of how the story finally came to be told can be reported for the first time after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy after a party in 2008. Tory MP Imran Ahmad Khan tweeted in support of press freedom on the day he tried to gag the media from reporting his name over a charge of sexually assaulting a schoolboy.

Wakefield MP Imran Ahmad Khan is found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy in 2008.

He tried again to have the case heard anonymously on the first day of the trial on the grounds that as an Ahmadi Muslim, both the consumption of alcohol and homosexuality are strictly prohibited, and the reporting of those matters would expose him to "a risk to his safety both here and abroad". Following the verdict it can now be reported that Khan had attempted to have the case heard in secrecy, arguing that as a serving MP there were concerns about his safety and that to name him in court would breach his human rights. "This case has had a huge impact on the victim and his family for a number of years." The judge, Mr Justice Baker, said he would sentence Khan at a date to be fixed and he warned him "all sentencing options, including immediate custody, are being considered by the court". Jurors also heard from the complainant's older brother, who said the MP had asked if he was "a true Scotsman" and lifted his kilt, before "lunging" at him at the same party. The court heard that Khan had gone to the boy's bed and "reached in and touched his legs, reaching for, or actually touching, his groin".

Khan, 48, faces time in jail and could be disqualified as MP from his Wakefield constituency.

If Khan is sentenced to less than a year in jail, he will probably face a recall petition. A Labour party spokesperson said: “Imran Ahmad-Khan should immediately resign so a byelection can take place and the people of Wakefield can get the representation they deserve.” The recalled MP may stand as a candidate. The man firmly rejected the suggestion. If he receives a sentence of more than 12 months he will automatically be disqualified from being an MP, prompting a byelection in his Wakefield constituency in West Yorkshire. But the jury did not believe him.

Tory MP Imran Ahmad Khan has been found guilty at Southwark Crown Court of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy at a house in Staffordshire in 2008.

He was found guilty by a jury at Southwark Crown Court on Monday by a jury after around five hours of deliberations. He was found guilty by a jury at Southwark Crown Court on Monday by a jury after around five hours of deliberations ory MP Imran Ahmad Khan has been found guilty at Southwark Crown Court of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy at a house in Staffordshire in 2008.

The victim told a jury the MP for Wakefield dragged him upstairs, pushed him onto a bed and asked him to watch pornography before the attack.

If he is sentenced to more than a year in prison, Khan will automatically be disqualified from being a parliamentarian and lose his seat. She is not expected to stand in the Yorkshire city again. The victim, now 29, told a jury he felt "scared, vulnerable, numb, shocked and surprised" after Khan touched his feet and legs. Khan, then 34, said he was trying to be "kind" and "helpful" but the teenager became upset and "bolted" when the topic of pornography was raised. He said the MP came within "a hair's breadth" of his privates as he tried to sleep in a top bunkbed. He said he was not "taken very seriously" when he made the allegation to the Conservative Party press office days before Khan was elected as MP for Wakefield in the December 2019 general election.

Wakefield MP Imran Ahmad Khan has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a teenager at a house party. But he is still the West Yorkshire city's MP.

It states that death, disqualification and expulsion are the only way an MP can give up their seat. In order to go, they have to apply to the chancellor for one of two titles that disqualifies them - the Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds or the Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead. Before then there was no real mechanism to get rid of MPs convicted of crimes.

Imran Ahmad Khan plied the teenager with gin, dragged him upstairs and asked him to watch pornography.

In subsequent interviews with the police he was able to tell investigators more about what had taken place and I am pleased that the jury have accepted the victim's compelling evidence about the offence committed by Khan. Rosemary Ainslie, head of CPS Special Crime Division, said: "Imran Ahmad Khan MP has been convicted today for the sexual assault of a boy in 2008. Khan, then 34, said he was trying to be “kind” and “helpful”, but the teenager became upset and “bolted” when the topic of pornography was raised.

Southwark Crown Court heard how Khan forced the teenager to drink gin at a party 14 years ago.

Khan, then 34, said he was trying to be “kind” and “helpful”, but the teenager became upset and “bolted” when the topic of pornography was raised. But he told jurors “it all came flooding back” when he learned Khan was standing in the December 2019 general election. The victim said he wasn’t “taken very seriously” when he made the allegation to the Conservative Party press office days before Khan, 48, was elected in the December 2019 general election.

Wakefield MP Imran Ahmad Khan has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a teenager at a house party. But he is still the West Yorkshire city's MP.

It states that death, disqualification and expulsion are the only way an MP can give up their seat. In order to go, they have to apply to the chancellor for one of two titles that disqualifies them - the Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds or the Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead. Before then there was no real mechanism to get rid of MPs convicted of crimes.

Conservative MP Imran Ahmad Khan has today been convicted of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy after forcing him to drink gin and tonic at a house party ...

I said 'I'm going to the police', and she said 'Well, you do that'.' He continued: 'I explained that Imran Khan was running for MP and had just sort of been hurriedly put through. Khan, who is gay and a Muslim, had also made a lewd comment about the boy's older brother who was wearing a kilt. I wasn't taken very seriously.' No further action had been taken because the youngster did not want to make a formal complaint. 'I also contacted the Tory press office, trying to inform them what had happened. Khan appeared wearing a dark suit holding a walking stick and showed no emotion when hearing his guilty verdict this afternoon. It has also emerged that Khan tweeted in support of press freedom on the day he tried to gag the media from reporting his name over a charge of sexually assaulting a schoolboy. Khan's 15-year-old victim told a court that he 'vividly' remembered the gin bottle Khan took to the party, the smell of the spirit in the glass tumbler, and the fizz of the bubbles as he was forced by Khan to drink the cocktail. It has also emerged that Khan tweeted in support of press freedom on the day he tried to gag the media from reporting his name over a charge of sexually assaulting a schoolboy. The full details of how the story finally came to be told can be reported for the first time after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy after a party in 2008. Tory MP Imran Ahmad Khan has been expelled from the party after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy at a house in 2008 - as it is revealed he tweeted in support of press freedom on the day he tried to gag the media from reporting his name.

Southwark Crown Court heard how Khan forced the teenager to drink gin and tonic, dragged him upstairs, pushed him onto a bed and asked him to watch pornography ...

But he told jurors "it all came flooding back" when he learned Khan was standing in the December 2019 general election. But Khan, who has been suspended by the Conservative Party, was found guilty by a jury at Southwark Crown Court on Monday by a jury after around five hours of deliberations. A Tory MP has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy after forcing him to drink gin at a party 14 years ago.

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Khan, then 34, said he was trying to be “kind” and “helpful”, but the teenager became upset and “bolted” when the topic of pornography was raised. He said Khan also watched him do pull-ups, asked him to watch pornography and told him he was “good looking” in a “love whisper” in his ear, which was “disgusting and really slimy”. The victim said he “vividly” remembered the gin bottle Khan took to the party, the smell of the spirit in the glass tumbler, and the fizz of the bubbles as he was forced by Khan to drink the cocktail.