Sir Keir Starmer mentioned police ought to be concerned within the case of suspended Tory MP Mark Menzies, who faces allegations he misused marketing campaign funds.
The backbench MP for Flyde in Lancashire has misplaced the Conservative whip after The Occasions printed claims he had used political donations to cowl medical bills and repay “dangerous individuals” who had locked him in a flat and demanded 1000’s of kilos for his launch.
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Mr Menzies disputes the allegations, and the Conservative Occasion has mentioned it’s wanting into the claims and takes them critically.
The Labour chief instructed reporters throughout a go to to Teesside: “There are clearly a variety of unanswered questions in relation to those allegations. Not least why it appears the Conservative Occasion took so lengthy to behave and whether or not they’ve reported this to the police, who it appears to me ought to be concerned on this.”
He mentioned there’s a “diploma of frustration” that two weeks away from the native elections “but once more we’re speaking about misbehaviour by Tory MPs”.
Mark Menzies, Pic: UK Parliament
“If ever you wanted proof of why we have to flip the web page on this … and have a recent begin with Labour, I believe it is in these allegations popping out immediately,” he mentioned.
Sir Keir’s feedback come after shadow chief of the home Lucy Powell mentioned the “extraordinary” report raised “very critical questions” and warranted a police investigation.
Talking within the Commons, she additionally questioned the dealing with of the claims by the Conservatives, saying there was “a worrying sample right here of cover-up and inaction” in reference to stories the get together had been conscious of the allegations for greater than three months.
Sky Information understands there had been an investigation ongoing by Conservative Marketing campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) however additional info got here to mild yesterday and Simon Hart, the Tory get together chief whip, acted instantly.
Referring to current revelations relating to a “honeytrap” scandal in Westminster, Ms Powell added: “Plainly but once more, like with the Member for Hazel Grove (William Wragg) and so many different current instances of sleaze and scandal, they’re too weak to behave decisively and as an alternative select to brush issues beneath the carpet.”
Mr Wragg gave up the whip final week after he admitted to The Occasions he had given his colleagues’ cellphone numbers to somebody he met on a relationship app.
The senior backbencher apologised and mentioned the particular person “had compromising issues on me. They would not go away me alone”.
Commons Chief Penny Mordaunt declined to touch upon the particular instances, however mentioned the problems raised by Ms Powell had been “very critical issues”.
Earlier, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps denied ideas there was an issue throughout the Tory get together, telling Sky Information: “There are MPs from different events which have skilled comparable issues or misdemeanours and it’s proper that there are processes in place.”
What has been alleged in The Occasions?
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Mr Menzies, who has served as an MP since Might 2010, is reported to have phoned his 78-year-old former marketing campaign supervisor at 3.15am final December, saying he was locked in a flat by “dangerous individuals” and wanted £5,000 as a matter of “life and loss of life”.
The sum, which rose to £6,500, was ultimately paid by his workplace supervisor from her private checking account and subsequently reimbursed from funds raised from donors in an account named Fylde Westminster Group, the newspaper says.
A supply near Mr Menzies instructed the paper he determined to pay them as a result of he was petrified of what would occur in any other case, however didn’t have the funds to switch the cash from his personal financial savings.
There are different events the place Mr Menzies allegedly used cash from the marketing campaign fund to cowl medical bills totalling £14,000. None of it was repaid, in keeping with The Occasions.
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In a press release to the paper, Mr Menzies mentioned: “I strongly dispute the allegations put to me. I’ve absolutely complied with all the foundations for declarations. As there’s an investigation ongoing I can’t be commenting additional.”
A Conservative Occasion spokesman mentioned: “The Conservative Occasion is investigating allegations made relating to a Member of Parliament. This course of is rightfully confidential.
“The get together takes all allegations critically and can all the time examine any issues put to them.”
A spokeswoman for Chief Whip Simon Hart mentioned Mr Menzies had “agreed to relinquish the Conservative whip, pending the result of an investigation”, that means he’ll now sit as an Unbiased MP.
A spokesperson for Lancashire Police mentioned: “We’re conscious of stories within the media referring to a serving Member of Parliament. No criticism has been made to the police at this stage.
“We are going to make contact with these impacted in the end to see whether or not they want to make a criticism.”
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