even by Crispin's standards...

When people “withdraw” statements is that not completely worthless? How do you unsay things?

He seems to have deleted the original tweet? Not sure that's going to help him now, like.

Worth noting the back story about initial attempts to keep the trial secret, apparently to avoid reputational damage to a serving MP. According to the Mail it took the resources of a couple of newspapers to challenge this in the courts.

The importance of the right to free speech is something that has come up repeatedly through the whole sex and gender debate.

All over Radio 4, main bulletin and discussion piece. Apparently it expected that CB will withdraw his statement later today.

This was also a news item a little earlier on the Radio 3 news and they usually only cover about 4-5 things.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-61075923

It’s possible Blunt thinks that because the physical assault was limited to Khan touching the 15 year old on the legs and feet (stroking him, is maybe more accurate), it’s ‘minor’, and that it’s homophobia because a straight man assaulting a girl in this way (getting her drunk, encouraging her to watch porn and then touching her as she slept) would be unlikely to have been convicted.

But that’s because we live in a sexist society that doesn’t protect women and girls.

Eh, Crispy?

This needs no comment - I think the second picture says it for us all!

I can't believe Khan can remain as an MP if he gets less than a year in custody.
I know there will be pressure to resign, but surely any sort of sexual or violent conviction whilst a sitting MP should be an automatic GTFO.

I dunno. I wasn't there. The impression I am developing from reading different reports is that Khan was parachuted into the constituency as a candidate in 2019, and the relationship between him and the local conservative association soured after the election. And then they were stuck with him. And sadly, so was the rest of the constituency.

“Mr Khan is, regardless of this case, unfit to be an MP. Trust me on this. I know where the bodies are buried”

If this was the case, why did the individual continue in their role as agent? Very frustrating/disappointing that despite their alleged concern they continued to work in a role supporting Khan’s election.

I think it's all over for Blunt. I've seen four people resign from the APPG now, and now Imran Khan's former election agent has condemned Blunt too. Reading the thread of replies, it sounds like the local conservative association in Wakefield are extremely happy to be rid of Khan and that they're furious that Blunt would try to interfere.

I was Imran Ahmed Khan's Agent when he was elected in 2019.

I know him reasonably well.

For you, @CrispinBlunt, as a member of Parliament, which is a court in itself, to question the integrity of Southwark CC; the integrity and professional ability of Mr Justice Baker, 1/-

the integrity of the jury and that of the Crown prosecutor, is frankly a disgrace. Not for the first time you have brought yourself into disrepute as an MP.

Mr Khan is, regardless of this case, unfit to be an MP. Trust me on this. I know where the bodies are buried

twitter.com/TonyHomewood/status/1513640659265200129?t=l5Ocj6fKISsrySUAAIuZVw&s=19

Thats awful- Is there any more detail about why he thinks its acceptable?
i know he tends to think being gay is a card you can play to make anything acceptable. He's actually my mp so i may write to him.

extract

Imran Khan’s defence asked the jury to give “considerable weight” to numerous “people of high standing prepared to put their name forward in support of him.”

They included Gravesham MP Adam Holloway, who described Imran Khan as “highly intelligent” with “forthright views”. And Valery Tsepkalo, a Belarusian politician turned opposition activist who said he was “shocked” to find out about the allegations of sexual assault.

From
www.itv.com/news/calendar/2022-04-11/imran-khan-the-downfall-of-the-high-flying-mp-found-guilty-of-sexual-assault

More resignations have followed. I wonder if any will reflect on the warning signs they ignored.

Blunt's not received many likes, but here's one.

He seems to be doubling down. Apparently the event was minor on any scale!

In a surprise development, The Graun is reporting the Blunt debacle-thought they were going to go all WiSpa on it.

[quote DelurkingLawyer]@Abitofalark oh they all knew, he’s just gone and said the quiet part out loud and suddenly transformed himself into a liability.

I’d forgotten but reading the link again they were also criticised for being insufficiently transparent about funding for their Unofficial Self-Selecting Interest Group (a much better name). Who was providing some of the funding? One guess.[/quote]
Yes, I vaguely recall something about that - was it that they were providing the secretariat for the group? I might be confusing it with a different APPG but that definitely happened with one of them.

It's a tale as old as time. Everyone is against sex crimes until someone from a special group is convicted (whether it be a LGBT Muslim, a religious leader, a beloved movie star, etc) and then the excuses begin to roll in...he didn't really do it, the victim is lying, it's a stitch up, blah blah.

It's also completely ridiculous he's tried to blame this conviction on anti LGBT attitudes.

@Abitofalark oh they all knew, he’s just gone and said the quiet part out loud and suddenly transformed himself into a liability.

I’d forgotten but reading the link again they were also criticised for being insufficiently transparent about funding for their Unofficial Self-Selecting Interest Group (a much better name). Who was providing some of the funding? One guess.

(Can you tell I’m feeling bitter tonight )

They're only resigning now, not because they didn't know what he is like but because they are worried about damage to the image of the campaign and campaigners. How could you sit at a table with him and not know?

Apparently he was in court to listen to Khan’s evidence but not anything else, including the victims.

It's not just that one assault on one boy, as it appears others gave evidence, according to this report:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-61026348