British Broadcasting CorporationA parliamentary leader has called on Nigel Farage to expel one of his fellow Reform UK MPs after they were convicted of assaulting his ex-girlfriend.
James McMurdock admitted he pushed the woman in 2006 when he was asked about the incident after winning the Essex seat of South Basildon and East Thurrock in July .
However, last week The Times reports more details He kicked the victim about four times, according to court records.
Gavin Callaghan, the Labor leader at Basildon Council, said Farage should withdraw the whip from McMurdoch after the latest revelations.
“Nigel Farage is weak,” Callaghan said.
“The fact that he is unwilling to address this issue like a true parliamentary leader speaks volumes about his case.”
Matt Knight/BBCMcMurdoch won his seat at the general election by 98 votes. The Labor candidate came second, with incumbent Conservative candidate Stephen Metcalf third.
After the election results were announced, the Daily Mail said it had spoken to the victim’s mother, and McMurdoch issued a statement in response.
He said he was 19 at the time, both were “very drunk” and he handed himself over to police “immediately”.
“I faced the consequences then and paid the full price for my actions,” he said.
“It was the realization of what happened that night and the shame I felt about it that prompted me to change my life.”
Reform UK said it was aware of the verdict and told the Daily Mail they “strongly believe people can change their lives”.
Last week, The Times reported that he pleaded guilty late in the legal process and expressed a “lack of willingness to comply.”
He spent a week in juvenile hall.
When contacted by the BBC last week, McMurdoch’s office said it had nothing to add to his July statement.
Clacton MP and party leader Farage, who has always stood by his colleague, said on Thursday McMurdoch “did some really bad things a long time ago”.
“It’s not something he’s proud of at all, but you know, what’s happened is that we rehabilitate the offender – we have Christian forgiveness.”
Pressed further, he said McMurdoch – who later worked in the City and is a married father of four – was a “real recovery story”.
Potential parliamentary candidates can run in elections even if they have a criminal record, unless they have served a prison sentence or been detained for 12 months or more.
