Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski cleared by party over Channel 4 allegations
Shrewsbury’s MP has been cleared of any wrongdoing after being accused of pressurising a young researcher to go on a date with an elderly businessman.
Daniel Kawczynski was alleged to have approached a woman in 2013 on behalf of a contact from overseas who had seen her in Parliament.
But the MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham was last night told by the Conservative Party that there was no foundations to the allegations and he would not face any disciplinary action.
Mr Kawczynski said he felt the allegations, which had been made by Channel 4 and broadcast in November, had made him a ‘stronger’ and ‘harder’ person and added that he was delighted to have been exonerated.
“This has been investigated and I have been told there will be no further action,” he said.
“It has been a tortuous time but I am very pleased that the truth has come out and I have been exonerated. It was a profoundly difficult thing to go through and it has changed me as a person. It has made me harder and stronger but at the same time it has made me grateful that the system works.
“There is nothing more mortifying than to experience this sort of crisis as an MP. But what does not kill you makes you stronger.
Grateful
“I am just very grateful to the friends, family and wider community who have stood by me in this and to my many constituents who sent me messages of support.
“Channel 4 have been investigated thoroughly by the Conservative Party and I have been informed by the party that no action will be taken against me.”
He added: “The broadcast falsely made an allegation about an alleged event many years ago and the individual concerned, quite properly, declined to make a complaint or even otherwise assist the investigation.”
Mr Kawczynski was one of at least five Tory MPs who were under investigation.
Stephen Crabb's behaviour was found to be 'inappropriate' but did not constitute harassment, as he admitted sending sexually explicit texts to a 19-year-old woman.
Tory former minister Daniel Poulter was cleared by the party in March of allegations he put his hands up the skirts of female MPs.
Charlie Elphicke was suspended from the party and referred to the police.
Damian Green and Mark Garnier were investigated by the Cabinet Office.