In the face of contrary accusations, leader of the People’s Progressive Movement Alden McLaughlin on Friday denied that he had assaulted United Democratic Party legislator Ellio Solomon on Thursday (29).

Details remain sketchy, but the alleged confrontation occurred in the Legislative Assembly conference rooms, where MLAs regularly meet, talk and share meals.

After a morning session, on Thursday, comprising the tabling of one private-member’s motion, the tabling of the Cinematograph Law and a report by the Commission of Standards in Public Life, followed by debate on three questions, the assembly adjourned for lunch, recovening in the afternoon, when the alleged attack took place.

Observers would say nothing more than “a slapping” had occurred, but Mr Solomon, on Friday-morning’s “Crosstalk” radio show on Rooster, offered a brief description of the alleged event.

“I am not going to get into too many details, but I will say as a matter of public record that yesterday in the afternoon I was assaulted by the Honourable Alden McLaughlin and I intend to do what I believe any normal citizen would do under the circumstance and that is to seek to file those complaints and have charges brought against him,” Mr Solomon, backbencher and fourth elected member for George Town said.

“I think I would leave it there for now because it is going to be a matter that goes before the courts,” he said. “I would say if there is a situation where the the Honourable Alden McLaughlin is willing to come forward and apologise in no flowery language, but a sincere apology, then I would definitely consider dropping those charges.

“That is the case as it occurred yesterday [Thursday] and now perhaps we can move on to the business of the day,” Mr Solomon said.

He declined to comment further after Friday’s early LA session,  saying through a spokesman that “I have nothing to add to what I have already said.”

Mr McLaughlin, who appeared on the floor of  the LA about noon, denied the assault, but declined to say more.

“I did not assault anyone and have no further comment to make,” he told iNews.

The episode follows a 7 October 2009, incident when Mr McLaughlin, former Minister of Education, on the same morning radio show, was discussing the troubled construction of Cayman’s two new high schools.

Mr Solomon, previously the show’s co-host and recently elected to the LA, entered the studio, uninvited, during the live broadcast to challenge remarks by Mr McLaughlin that Mr Solomon’s family had benefited from the project.