Lib Dem leadership favourite admits she was held for ex-boyfriend slap

Lib Dem leadership favourite admits she was ARRESTED for slapping ex-boyfriend at party conference after a ‘row over a computer cable’

  • Layla Moran shared the story of her detention in a Scottish jail on Twitter 
  • She and her ex-boyfriend were engaged in a heated party conference argument 
  • The MP has previously been linked with the Lib Dem leadership position 

Layla Moran, MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, revealed the story on Twitter

One of the frontrunners to replace Sir Vince Cable as Liberal Democrat leader has admitted she was detained by police after slapping her ex-boyfriend in a row at a party conference.

Layla Moran, MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, said she was charged over the incident, which began as an argument over a lost computer cable.

The charges were later dropped after the fracas, which took place almost six years ago.

Miss Moran, 36, made the admission on Twitter in response to ‘rumours’ that have begun to swirl.

Sir Vince, 75, announced earlier this month that he would step down as Lib Dem leader in May.

It will lead to a hard-fought leadership battle. Miss Moran, the party’s education spokesman, is believed to be a potential contender, as is current deputy leader Jo Swinson.

Writing on Twitter, Miss Moran wrote: ‘I wanted to respond to rumours I’ve been hearing over the last couple of weeks that have surfaced in relation to a previous relationship of mine. 

 

The MP said she had decided to share the story in response to 'swirling rumours' over the incident

The MP said she had decided to share the story in response to ‘swirling rumours’ over the incident

Ms Moran has previously been a vocal advocate for a People's Vote. Pictured: Ms Moran campaigning alongside Chuka Umunna and Caroline Lucas

Ms Moran has previously been a vocal advocate for a People’s Vote. Pictured: Ms Moran campaigning alongside Chuka Umunna and Caroline Lucas

‘My ex-boyfriend Richard has given permission for me to share our story. So here it is. 

‘In 2013, Richard and I had a row at the autumn conference in Glasgow that initially began over a lost computer cable.

‘The relationship had come under enormous strain in preceding months and regrettably, it escalated and in the heat of the moment I slapped him because I felt threatened.

‘We both recognise it wasn’t our finest hour and were, both at the time and continue to be, grateful that the police mediated, and calmed things down.’

She went on to say that she was initially charged because the law governing domestic disputes in Scotland dictates that all such cases should be handled by the courts, regardless of the circumstances.

She has been linked with the top job after Sir Vince, 75, announced earlier this month that he would step down

She has been linked with the top job after Sir Vince, 75, announced earlier this month that he would step down

‘Since… it was a weekend when no magistrate was available to adjudicate, we were both detained at the police station,’ she wrote.

‘I was initially charged in line with the zero-tolerance policy but then the charges were dropped and there was no case to answer’

Miss Moran, who is the first British MP of Palestinian descent, said the relationship ended and six years have passed, adding: ‘Breakups are rarely a moment you want to remember.

‘This was a personal moment and we have both moved on and forgiven each other for the events of that Saturday morning.’

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