Tory MP Bob Stewart has denied racially abusing a man after he allegedly told him to “go back to Bahrain”.

The Metropolitan Police launched an investigation after a complaint was made by activist Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, who has said he is living in exile after being tortured in the Gulf state.

The MP for Beckenham in south-east London is said to have told Mr Alwadaei during an angry confrontation on 14 December last year to “get stuffed” and that he is “taking money off my country”.

Politics Live: Rishi Sunak facing last PMQs before summer break

He was charged with a racially aggravated public order offence over the alleged incident outside the Foreign Office’s Lancaster House.

Stewart, 74, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday to plead not guilty.

The MP also denied an alternative count of using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

Susan Hall announced as Conservative candidate for London mayor

Government’s PPE purchases during COVID pandemic likened to ‘panic buying’ by MPs

Cruise ships set to house asylum seekers in Liverpool and Edinburgh sent back to owners after finding nowhere to dock

The Met said the second charge is to allow the court discretion on the racial element of the allegation and does not relate to a separate incident.

Read more on Politics:
Susan Hall announced as Conservative candidate for London mayor
Tory minister attacks how Nigel Farage has been treated by Coutts bank

A one-day trial has been fixed for 3 November at the same court.

Mr Stewart was elected to parliament in 2010 and serves on a number of parliamentary committees, including the Northern Ireland affairs committee and the intelligence and security committee.

Before becoming an MP he was an Army officer for 26 years and served in Northern Ireland and Bosnia.

He kept the Tory whip after being charged.

Mr Alwadaei, 37, who said he was tortured after taking part in anti-government protests in the country, is the director of advocacy at the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy.

Related posts:

PM’s warnings of lockdown in jeopardy sent shivers down spines UK delays implementing post-Brexit border controls on agri-food imports from EU Top official leading probe into Downing Street Christmas party row ‘attended events himself’ Dorries ‘kicked off’ Tory WhatsApp group after defending ‘hero’ Johnson Tory MP who allegedly watched porn in Commons should be ‘kicked out of party’ Labour MP should be suspended from Commons for breaching bullying policy, expert panel recommends Back to imperial? Government confirms consultation on ‘overbearing’ metric measurement rules Beth Rigby Interviews… Sajid Javid PM will vow to ‘give everything’ to deliver on Good Friday Agreement’s vision Northern Ireland secretary ‘truly believes’ Stormont will be up and running by end of year Lib Dems ask committee to consider ‘withdrawal’ of Boris Johnson’s honours list Another Sunak priority in doubt as national debt reaches 60-year high