The Conservative MP who condemned the conviction of his colleague for sexual assault, and then issued an apology, has sparked controversy after once again claiming the verdict was “a serious miscarriage of justice”.
Last month Southwark Crown Court found Conservative MP Imran Ahmad Khan guilty of sexually assaulting a 15 year-old boy.
The conviction relates to an attack at a Staffordshire house in 2008, where he allegedly forced the victim to drink alcohol and view pornography before assaulting him.
He has since stepped down as an MP, with a by-election due to take place in his former Wakefield seat next month.
Crispin Blunt MP told BBC1’s Politics South East programme: “I know what decisions were made within the trial, which meant that, in my judgement, he did not get a fair trial or anything remotely like that.”
Blunt, who only attended parts of the trial and did not observe witness testimony, appeared to claim he knew more about the case than the jury.
“Yes inevitably, because quite a lot of the trial was conducted without the jury being present,” he stressed, going on: “Of course, the justice process is not complete, because… Imran has the opportunity to appeal the conviction. And I remain very confident that a justice system worthy of the name will restore his good name.”
Labour have urged the Conservatives to remove the whip from Blunt following his comments.
Following Ahmad Khan’s conviction, Blunt claimed the verdict had “dreadful wider implications for millions of LGBT+ Muslims around the world.”
Blunt’s statement was soon deleted from his website and he subsequently issued an apology for the remarks, stating: “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 also claimed he believed in the independence and integrity” of Britain’s justice system.
He has also said he had resigned as chair of the APPG for global LGBT+ rights.
