MP Imran Ahmad Khan has stepped down after sexual assault conviction

Conservative MP Imran Ahmad KhanConservative MP Imran Ahmad Khan has resigned after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy.Khan has been serving as Member of Parliament for Wakefield since 2019.Mr Khan has said that he will be appealing the conviction and him stepping down from his role would enable him to "focus entirely on clearing" his name.https://twitter.com/imranahmadkhan/status/1514636887792697344?s=20&t=3ZhPRPyVniKaKzOLS2qEAgTaking to his Twitter page, Khan wrote: "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.A jury found me guilty of touching a leg above clothing with sexual intent.

I am appealing the verdict handed down on Monday, 11 March. While legal proceedings are ongoing, I do not believe that it would ordinarily be appropriate to resign. However, owing to long delays in the legal process, my constituents have already been without visible parliamentary representation for a year. Even in the best case scenario, anticipated legal proceedings could last many more months."He added: "I have therefore regrettably come to the conclusion that it is intolerable for constituents to go years without an MP who can amplify their voices in Parliament."

Khan went to say that representing his constituents has been the 'honour of his life and they deserve better than this'."Consequently I am resigning as MP for Wakefield and withdrawing from political life. I shall shortly write to the Parliamentary authorities to confirm this. I am now able to focus entirely on clearing my name," Khan wrote.The former MP also apologised to his family by saying: "As I intend for this to be my only statement, I would like to apologise to my family and community for the humiliation this has caused them."Questions surrounding sexuality in my community are not trivial, and learning from the press about my orientation, drinking, and past behaviour before I became an MP has not been easy."