Fife MSP Bill Walker has sensationally admitted ”slapping” one of his ex-wives but insisted it was in self-defence.
The shamed politician, who is battling allegations of domestic abuse and rape, said he had ”restrained” his second wife after she ”lunged at him” with an ”ornamental dagger”.
The Dunfermline MSP was expelled from the SNP earlier this month after being accused of domestic abuse over four decades by three former spouses.
But in a detailed rebuttal to the allegations, the 70-year-old said he had never had any physical altercations with his first and third wives. However, he did confess to the incident with his second wife.
”It was around 1983 or 1984 and we had bought a house together as part of a reconciliation,” he said. ”On this particular night I was in my study and came through to the living room when she appeared in front of me from the kitchen holding this ornamental stiletto dagger in her hand.
”She started shouting at me and lunged at me. I backed away. I managed to grab her hand and wrestle her to the floor. I think I maybe used an open fist to slap her but I certainly never punched her I would never do that.
”I then had to prise this dagger which I believe was used as a paper knife from her hand finger by finger.”
Mr Walker added that he then made a ”mistake” by taking the dagger outside and putting it in a rubbish bin rather than ringing the authorities to report the incident.
Mr Walker also categorically denied an allegation of rape dating back more than 20 years. Fife Constabulary have confirmed they are investigating a complaint related to the claim.
He repeated his belief that he is the victim of an orchestrated smear campaign and stressed he will not resign as an MSP.
”I will not be hounded out,” he said. ”I have not yet decided if I will appeal my expulsion, but whatever happens I will remain as MSP for Dunfermline and fully expect to vote with the party.”
Mr Walker married his first wife in 1967, but she filed for divorce less than three years later alleging he had acted cruelly towards her. Uncontested divorce papers show she accused him of striking her across the face. Mr Walker denies the incident happened. He added that he remains on ”good terms” with his first wife and is in occasional contact with her.
He married his third wife in 1988. She has also alleged that she was a victim of domestic abuse an allegation again denied by Mr Walker. They divorced in 1996.
He married his fourth wife, June, last year.
The SNP expelled Mr Walker after a disciplinary hearing earlier this month found he had failed to make the party aware of relevant information about his past when he applied to become a parliamentary candidate.
Labour’s Fife MSPs have taken the unusual step of issuing a joint statement calling for him to resign as an MSP.
The Courier contacted Mr Walker’s second wife, who we have decided not to name, but she declined to comment.