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MP quits Parliament after sexually assaulting boy
Published 17:17 14 Apr 2022 BST
Updated 17:31 14 Apr 2022 BST
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The Member of Parliament had been intending to fight on
Conservative Imran Ahmad Khan will step down from his role in Parliament, three days after his conviction for sexual assault.
The Member of Parliament for Wakefield had been found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy in 2008.
According to reports in the Spectator, Khan originally intended to stay on and fight his case in parliament, but following significant public backlash has chosen to stand down.
In a statement posted on Twitter he apologised to his family and friends for the "humiliation" has caused them.
"I don’t know how to express the shock of the past three days. I have been characterised as a sexual predator, outcast, and worse," he said.
Khan confirmed he would be appealing the verdict: "I am now able to focus entirely on clearing my name. As I intend for this to be my only statement, I would like to apologise for my family and community for the humiliation this has caused them.
"Questions surrounding sexuality in my community are not trivial, and learning from the the press about my orientation, drinking, and past behaviour before I became an MP has not been easy."
A by-election will be held in his Wakefield constituency to determine its next MP.Explore more on these topics:
