Conservative peer Ruth Davidson doesn’t suppose Mark Menzies will survive the week as an MP.
The ex-Tory MP for Fylde in Lancashire is being investigated by his get together over stories in The Instances that he misused marketing campaign funds.
Mr Menzies disputes the allegations however the Conservative Occasion mentioned it’s taking them “significantly” and “will all the time examine issues put to them”.
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The report alleges that Mr Menzies rang a 78-year-old former employees member at 3.15am final December, saying he was locked in a flat by “unhealthy folks” and wanted ┬г5,000 as a matter of “life and loss of life”.
The sum, which rose to ┬г6,500, 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.
Talking to Beth Rigby on the Electoral Dysfunction podcast, Ruth – who led the Scottish Conservatives for nearly a decade – predicts that Mr Menzies will resign.
She mentioned: “The Tories have been supposedly instructed about this three months in the past, and that is the primary we’re listening to about it.
“And by studying the story, it appears very very like this woman instructed her native affiliation, raised the purple flag, then instructed the parliamentary authorities.
“The chief whip then instructed CCHQ, which is Tory HQ. Nothing’s occurred and now she’s quoted within the newspapers.
“So, I imply, it does seem that there is native affiliation wrath about the way in which they have been handled by this MP. So, you already know, I feel it is a very tough one, and I might discover it tough to consider that an investigation may be held and he may be cleared in time to face a normal election.
“In reality, I might be shocked if he survives the week right here and would not simply resign.”
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Mr Menzies disputes the allegations in opposition to him. Pic: UK Parliament
In an announcement to The Instances, Mr Menzies mentioned: “I strongly dispute the allegations put to me. I’ve absolutely complied with all the foundations for declarations. As there may be an investigation ongoing I cannot be commenting additional.”
A spokesman for the Tories 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 significantly and can all the time examine any issues put to them.”
Mr Menzies has stepped down as a authorities commerce envoy, and had the whip eliminated on Wednesday night.
Dropping the whip means Mr Menzies is not a member of the Conservative parliamentary get together and can sit as an unbiased MP, moderately than a Tory MP, within the Home of Commons.
The get together’s chief whip Simon Hart is claimed to have been made conscious of the claims in January, when the previous marketing campaign supervisor reported what had occurred.
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Sky Information understands there was an investigation ongoing by Conservative Marketing campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) for the reason that allegations have been first raised however additional data got here to gentle yesterday and Mr Hart acted instantly.
A spokesperson for the chief whip mentioned: “Following a name with the chief whip, Mark Menzies has agreed to relinquish the Conservative whip, pending the end result of an investigation.”
A spokesperson for Lancashire Police mentioned: “We’re conscious of stories within the media regarding a serving Member of Parliament. No criticism has been made to the police at this stage.
“We’ll make contact with these impacted in the end to see whether or not they want to make a criticism.”
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