Mark Menzies could face Commons probe over claims he gave funds to 'bad people'

20 April 2024 , 16:00

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Lancashire Police is looking into claims about Fylde MP Mark Menzies (Image: MSM)

Mark Menzies faces the threat of a Commons sleaze probe over claims he used campaign funds to pay “bad people”.

The Tory MP has been suspended by the party following allegations he called a 78-year-old former campaign manager at 3:15am claiming he was locked in a flat and needed £5,000 as a matter of "life and death".

The sum, which rose to £6,500, was eventually paid by his office manager from her personal bank account and subsequently reimbursed from funds raised from party donors.

Lancashire Police are looking into the claims about the 52-year-old Fylde MP.

Now Mr Menzies could be subjected to a separate probe by Commons authorities into whether he should have declared the secret cash payments. MPs are required to report donations and loans they receive. The Code of Conduct also states they “shall never undertake any action which would cause significant damage to the reputation and integrity of the House of Commons as a whole, or of its Members generally”.

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The Standards Commissioner has the power to recommend MPs are suspended from the Commons if found to have breached rules, which can lead to them facing a by-election.

Labour has accused Rishi Sunak of being too weak to deal with allegations about his MPs

Mr Menzies says he “strongly disputes” the allegations – which come 10 years after he resigned as a ministerial aide following a Sunday Mirror investigation. Rogerio Santos, 19, a Brazilian male escort, told us the MP had paid him for sex and asked him to buy an illegal drug. At the time in 2014, Mr Menzies said: “A number of these allegations are not true and I look forward to setting the record straight in due course.”

Labour has accused the Conservatives of being too slow to act over the latest allegations. Mr Menzies was only suspended by the party after the claims became public earlier this week.

Katie Fieldhouse, the woman who was called by Mr Menzies in the early hours on December 1, reported him to Chief Whip Simon Hart in January, but she became frustrated with the way the Conservative Party dealt with the complaint.

Labour last night demanded that Mr Hart and Tory Chairman Richard Holden “must urgently come out of hiding and explain what they knew”. Anneliese Dodds, who is Labour Party Chairwoman, said: "Time and again we have seen senior Conservatives act in their interest, rather than the public interest, and Rishi Sunak is too weak to do anything about it.”

In a statement to The Times earlier this week, Mr Menzies said: "I strongly dispute the allegations put to me. I have fully complied with all the rules for declarations. As there is an investigation ongoing I will not be commenting further."

John Stevens