A MP who until recently belonged to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party has resigned over allegations of sexual assault. MP Imran Ahmad Khan said Thursday he would “step out of political life”. The 48-year-old previously represented the northern English city of Wakefield in the House of Commons.
As a result of Khan’s resignation, there will be a by-election in this constituency, with no date set yet. The election is likely to be a major ballot test for Conservatives.
Earlier this week, a jury found Khan guilty of forcing a 15-year-old boy to drink alcohol at a party in 2008 and then sexually touch him. Khan denies this. His sentence will be announced at a later date. The Tories expelled him immediately after the party was found guilty.
Khan wants to ‘prove innocence’
In his resignation announcement posted on Twitter, Khan emphasized that he now wants to focus fully on “proving my innocence”. He has appealed the conviction.
Khan won the Wakefield mandate in 2019. The left-wing Labor Party dominated there for decades. The by-election will now be a test of whether the Tories can defend the numerous seats they won three years ago in traditional Labor strongholds.
Tories also under pressure for ‘Partygate’
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is going through difficult times at home. He is still under pressure over the “Partygate” affair over celebrations at his office that violate Corona rules. A few days ago, the police fined Johnson for attending such a party. It was the first time this had happened to a sitting British head of government
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
