Tory candidate stands down over sexual assault allegations to be replaced by wife
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Former Conservative MP Charlie Elphicke will not stand as the party’s candidate in Dover at the General Election – and the seat will instead be contested by his wife.
Mr Elphicke, who has represented the Kent constituency since 2010, lost the Tory whip in 2017 when allegations of sexual assault – which he denies – were referred to the police.
He was readmitted to the party in December prior to a confidence vote in then-prime minister Theresa May but was again suspended when he was formally charged in July this year.
Boris Johnson (C) speaks with Charlie Elphicke, Britain lawmaker, (L) and Doug Bannister, chief executive officer of Port of Dover Ltd., during a visit to the Port of Dover Ltd., as part of his Conservative Party leadership campaign tour, in Dover, Britain, 11 July 2019. EPA-EFE/Chris Ratcliffe / POOL
His wife, Natalie, was formally selected as the Conservative candidate for the seat after local members voted to adopt her on Friday.
Elphicke is accused of a sexual assault against one woman in 2007 and two assaults against a different woman within a week of each other in 2016. He denies the allegations and has stood down to fight them in court.
