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Bill Walker defiant in face of new police investigation

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Fife MSP Bill Walker has strenuously denied rape allegations made against him, branding them ”prurient titillation”.

The shamed politician told The Courier the claims were the work of a ”vicious” woman with a vendetta against him.

The allegation the latest in a number of serious accusations of domestic abuse involving the 70-year-old was made in uncontested court papers lodged in 1986.

Fife Constabulary said they were aware of the claims and were investigating them.

Mr Walker said he had not been spoken to by the police regarding any of the previous assault allegations made by his three former wives and his teenage step-daughter, and he insisted he would not resign his Dunfermline West seat.

However, Labour MP for Dunfermline and West Fife Thomas Docherty said Mr Walker appeared not to understand the seriousness of violence against women and this made him ”unfit for public office”.

He added: ”He is a disgrace to his party, he is a disgrace to our community and he is a disgrace to the Scottish Parliament.”

Mr Walker was expelled by the SNP earlier this month for failing to disclose the allegations during the MSP selection process, but is continuing as an independent.

He says he is considering his position with a view to appealing the party’s decision.

”I will continue as an MSP. I’ve not changed my policy on anything and I would like to return to the party,” he added. ”I completely deny any allegation. These are serious allegations but they are prurient titillation.

”If the police contact me then of course I will speak to them. There is a campaign here involving several people, one of whom has never come to terms with the fact I have had a little bit of political success.

”I feel very, very angry and annoyed there is a vendetta going on against me. This is someone who is vicious and she’s on a crusade.

”I have a completely clean police record and I have three enhanced disclosures one from when I became a college lecturer, one as a councillor and the third when I became lecturer at another college.

”I dispute all this rubbish and I’m now at the stage where I have to fight back. I’ve been contacted by dozens of backers, including MSPs, councillors and people who voted for me, and I’ve had a negligible amount of negative contact since my suspension and expulsion.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said it was not appropriate for other politicians to call for Mr Walker’s resignation.

“If there is a prosecution and Bill Walker is found guilty of these allegations, he should resign immediately, but up until that point it is not for other politicians to call for him to resign on the basis of allegations,” Mr Rennie said.

”We have a country that’s run with an open justice system and you are judged by your peers whether you are guilty or not. I would urge the police to investigate this promptly so we can deal with this matter and restore faith in the political system.”

In a joint statement released on Sunday evening, local Labour MSPs John Park, Richard Simpson, Claire Baker and Helen Eadie said: ”These are highly disturbing allegations and, coming on top of what we now know about Mr Walker’s past, we have serious concerns about his fitness to be an MSP. He should resign from the Scottish Parliament today.”

As well as being an MSP, Mr Walker is a Fife councillor but is not standing for re-election on May 3.

The former chartered engineer was elected to the council in 2007, at the age of 65, and to the Scottish Parliament last year.