Nigel Evans, the openly gay Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, was arrested Saturday over allegations that he raped one man and sexually assaulted another.
Evans, who had an anti-gay voting record which included support for Margaret Thatcher’s controversial Section 28, came out in 2010 after a fellow politician threatened to out him. He took to his garden following his release on bail to deny the charges against him:
“Yesterday, I was interviewed by the police concerning two complaints. One of which dates back four years by two people who are well known to each other and who until yesterday I regarded as friends. The complaints are completely false and I can not understand why they have been made, especially as I have continued to socialise with one as recently as last week.
“I appreciate the way that the police have handled this in such a sensitive manner and I’d like to thank my colleagues, friends and members of the public who have expressed their support and like me a sense of incredulity at these events.”
Among those expressing their support were Evans’ Facebook friends, without whom he would not have been able to get through “the worst 24 hours” of his life. During the course of the investigation, Evans will temporarily step down from his post.
Sohobod
hmmmm. Support from Facebook isn’t exactly conclusive proof of innocence. There have been things that came out in the Sunday papers that made me think he should make sure he should get a good defense team in place.
alexoloughlin
Whoever his accusers are, they’d better have overwhelming evidence. Knowingly filing a false complaint to the police in the UK is a very serious offense and can carry a fine, jail or both. The Mail and Telegraph had better be very careful how they spin it. Libel is a very serious crime. To say nothing of a defamation lawsuit by the complainants and if it proves to be the case. Nigel Evans has received huge support from his conservative constituents I might add and has served them well. Until then, he’s innocent until proven guilty.
2eo
@alexoloughlin: It strikes me as nothing more than an attack on the gay tories who are supporting SSM, this is clearly a right wing tactic and will be used as a sledgehammer and used for attacking the proposal.
My sources [whom I have yet to be misled, they’ve predicted all charges in the Saville inquiry 100% correct for one example] say there is very little no no actual evidence.