Tories back candidate after politicising Sarah Everard case

Boris Johnson talks to Shaun Bailey (left) - Credit: PA

The Tories have backed their London mayoral candidate after he was accused of politicising the disappearance of Sarah Everard.

Business minister Paul Scully said Shaun Bailey can “absolutely” still run for office despite facing criticism for comments around the case of the missing 33-year-old.

The mayoral candidate had said his wife and daughter “have to live in fear” in the capital but vowed to work to “deliver for the safety of women and girls” if he wins May’s contest.

Liberal Democrat rival Luisa Porritt called the comments “utterly grotesque” following Ms Everard’s disappearance, while Labour MP Catherine West said: “This is really not the time for cheap, political point scoring.”

Asked if the Tory candidate had used the case as “political capital”, Scully told Sky News: “Shaun Bailey has a plan for London in terms of giving the leadership on crime, on housing, on transport and air quality.

“The first thing people want to be is safe in their homes and Shaun has been doing a lot of work around (that).

“But we shouldn’t be distracted from the fact that there is a serious crime that’s gone on here.”

Scully, who is also minister for London, added the government was “absolutely” doing enough to keep women safe and was addressing domestic violence.

Bailey’s comments were made following the arrest of a serving Metropolitan Police officer in connection with the case but before Scotland Yard said he was being held on suspicion of murder.

An officer in the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command had earlier been arrested on suspicion of Ms Everard’s kidnap and murder.