CONTROVERSIAL Scottish Labour MP Mr Ron Brown is to appear at Hastings
Magistrates Court next month charged with theft and causing damage to
property.
The MP for Leith was arrested in the south coast resort on Tuesday
night after police were called to a flat in the town. Mr Brown, who said
the charges in part refer to a recording machine and special recordings,
declared he was innocent and would fight the allegations tooth-and-nail.
After questioning and making a statement, he was detained in the cells
before being granted bail to appear in court on May 23, a senior officer
confirmed. He was held in custody for six hours and only released early
yesterday.
It is understood the damage referred to in the charges concerns broken
windows and other fixtures in the flat. Mr Brown denies all knowledge of
any damage. ''I have a complete answer to the charges and the matter is
in the hands of my solicitors,'' he said.
''I shall be actively defending myself and will fight this case tooth
and nail.''
Mr Brown said an item which was the subject of one of the charges, a
recording machine, was his.
He went on: ''It has been alleged that some windows were broken. I can
assure you that it wasn't me.
''I repeat -- and I couldn't say it with more force -- that I am
completely innocent and that my lawyers are working on the case. And I
hope I am not going to be tried and condemned by the media.''
Mr Brown, who has represented Leith since 1979, has often managed to
capture the headlines. Most recently, there were allegations of
''frolicking'' with a woman in a House of Commons shower.
He declared then: ''No, of course it was not me. I wasn't even in the
changing rooms (in the House of Commons) last night.''
The research assistant said to be involved was Lorraine ''Nonna''
Longden. She too denied any involvement. Ms Longden lives in Hastings.
In April last year, Mr Brown grabbed the ceremonial Mace in the
Commons from its place in front of the Speaker, and either threw it or
dropped it to the ground.
It was regarded as a scandal which led to a 20-day suspension from the
House and the withdrawal of the Parliamentary whip. Mr Brown was later
asked to explain his actions to his local constituency party.
His special relationship with Colonel Gaddafi did not endear him to
many sections within the Labour Party.
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