A PROSPECTIVE Ukip MP, who once stood for Tandridge District Council, has been suspended after he was accused of sexually harassing a new party member.
Roger Bird has been suspended from his position as Ukip's general secretary over what the party called "allegations of impropriety" from former Labour campaigner Natasha Bolter.
Mr Bird, who lives in Chaldon, stood in the Tandridge District Council election for Chaldon ward in 2011. He came second to the Conservative candidate.
The allegations against Mr Bird surfaced in the national press on Monday.
Miss Bolter told The Times newspaper Mr Bird propositioned her over dinner on the day he interviewed her as a prospective candidate, and she denied claims made by Mr Bird they had a sexual relationship.
A Ukip spokesman said: "Unfortunately, Ukip has had to suspend Mr Bird pending a full investigation into allegations made against him.
"The party has acted swiftly and decisively and will not tolerate impropriety of any kind amongst its staff."
It is understood that an internal party disciplinary committee will decide what to do about the claims before Christmas.
Mr Bird defended himself in a conversation with Channel 4's political editor Michael Crick.
He said: "[Miss Bolter] was keen on me and I was keen on her. I have got e-mails and texts to show we had a relationship and I will be presenting these to the inquiry."
Until recently it was believed Mr Bird was to stand against serving Tory MP Sir Paul Beresford for the Mole Valley constituency at next year's general election.
However, following the allegations, Ukip's Mole Valley branch revealed he had resigned from the position in February, citing "pressures at work".
Michael Foulston, treasurer of Ukip's Mole Valley Epsom Branch, said: "Roger Bird was selected as the candidate for Mole Valley in January of 2013 and that remained the case until earlier this year.
"That changed when there were problems at work where frictions developed between himself and Tory donors to the business and it became too much, so he had to leave the Mole Valley position.
"He resigned in February."
Since leaving his Mole Valley position, Mr Bird had begun working full-time for Ukip as the party's general secretary and is now its prospective parliamentary candidate for the cities of London and Westminster seat.
Mr Bird stood as Ukip's candidate to become Mole Valley district councillor for Leatherhead and Fetcham East in May 2013.
He polled 1,048 votes, which was 416 fewer than Conservative Tim Hall.