The Labour MP for Glasgow Govan, Mr Mohammed Sarwar, protested his innocence yesterday after appearing in court accused of election fraud. After a brief appearance behind closed doors in a Glasgow courtroom, Mr Sarwar told reporters he had no intention of resigning as MP for his constituency. But he confirmed that he has dropped plans for his maiden speech in the House of Commons today, saying he was contacting the Speaker at the House of Commons to make "alternative arrangements".
Mr Sarwar said: "I am naturally disappointed that charges have been brought against me. However, I am also to some extent relieved because, after police inquiries lasting more than seven months, the intense speculation engendered by those inquiries, much of it ill-informed, should now be over.
"I reaffirm that I have done nothing wrong and I maintain that I am innocent of all charges. I have full confidence in the Scottish criminal justice system. If I am eventually indicted I am confident that the truth will come out and I will be acquitted of all charges."
The 45-year-old businessman, who became Britain's first Asian Muslim MP in the May 1st general election, did not say what new arrangements had been made for his cancelled maiden speech. He answered no other questions when he faced the media at the office of his media adviser, Mr Harry Conroy, in Glasgow.
Under Scottish procedures, it is now for Crown officials to further investigate allegations of misdeeds to do with late registration of voters, attempting to pervert the course of justice, and contraventions of the Representation of the People Act in connection with election expenses. A decision on what detailed charges, if any, the MP is to face will be taken by Crown counsel.
Meanwhile, dissenting Labour back-benchers confronted the Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, over their fears for the needy, despite their leader again spelling out his determination to press ahead with a shake-up of the welfare state.
At least nine of around 15 back-benchers who spoke at yesterday's end-of-term meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party put aside traditional deference for the party leader to tell Mr Blair they were unhappy at the way last week's lone parent benefit cuts were driven through. One of those who spoke, the veteran left-winger Mr Tony Benn, said the strength of feeling about benefits cuts had been clear.
With leaks emerging of plans to curb the runaway £23.5 billion disability and sickness benefit budget, MPs remain anxious. Mr Benn warned: "You can't hit the vulnerable and the poor."