Tory whip restored to MP Nigel Evans

The Conservative whip has been restored to MP Nigel Evans, his Westminster office has confirmed.

Mr Evans, MP for Ribble Valley in Lancashire, stopped taking the whip after becoming Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons in 2010.

The gay MP resigned as deputy speaker in September last year, following several sexual abuse allegations made against him.

He was fully cleared of all charges earlier this month.

Mr Evans always maintained his innocence throughout the trial. Speaking outside the court he said: “I’ve gone through 11 months of hell”.

Following his acquittal Conservative MPs urged David Cameron to allow Mr Evans to retake the Tory whip at the earliest opportunity, a move which the Prime Minister fully supported.

Mr Evans said he was eager to sit with his Tory colleagues in the House of Commons and had ruled out returning to his deputy speaker position.

The 56-year-old, who was born in Swansea and lives in Pendleton, Lancashire, became deputy speaker in June 2010, a politically neutral role.

He was elected as a Tory MP in 1992.

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