A TORY councillor has vehemently denied allegations he assaulted an MP’s aide at a nightclub.

Essex county councillor Stephen Canning, 25, who currently serves as the vice chairman of the place scrutiny committee, which scrutinises infrastructure and development across Essex, has been accused of assault at Maggie’s, a Margaret Thatcher-themed bar in London.

A series of messages, including some purporting to come from him, have been released via Facebook.

But in a statement yesterday he said: “I do not know what messages you refer to though have recently became aware of a Facebook screenshot depicting a situation that bears no resemblance to anything that has occurred.

“Sharing that or insinuating that involves myself discussing any sort of assault or incident is an outright lie.

“I have begun legal proceedings against those who have shared, continue to share and publish these whilst claiming they in any way depict myself discussing any sort of incident ever occurring.”

In a statement online, Mr Canning denied any involvement in a scuffle. He added: “I have had no allegations of assault put to me by the Conservative Party.

“I have not been involved in any incidents in the nightclub’s bar.

“I deny in the strongest possible way anything of this sort ever taking place and look forward to continuing to serve the Conservatives as a councillor.”

Mr Canning was the Conservative Party agent in Clacton last year when Giles Watling took the seat in the General Election.

Two years earlier, he had been suspended as Conservative Future’s deputy chairman, along with the entire national executive committee, following allegations about a fellow activist. The Conservative youth movement was later disbanded.

Mr Canning became one of the country’s youngest district councillors when he was elected to Braintree Council at the age of 18.

A spokesman for the Conservative Party said: “We do not comment on investigations.”