A TORY MP has been suspended by the party following claims he misused campaign cash to pay some “bad people” keeping him prisoner.
Mark Menzies allegedly made a late-night call to an elderly local Conservative aide demanding £5,000 as a matter of “life and death”.
Tory MP Mark Menzies has been suspended by the partyPA
That sum – which rose to £6,500 – was transferred by his office manager the next morning before being reimbursed from donor funds.
Fylde MP Mr Menzies disputes the accusations reported by The Times but the Tory Party is investigating and last night he resigned the whip.
A spokeswoman for Chief Whip Simon Hart said: “Following a call with the Chief Whip, Mark Menzies has agreed to relinquish the Conservative whip, pending the outcome of an investigation.”
It means he will sit in the Commons as an independent in another cut to Rishi Sunak’s majority.
Mr Menzies, 52, is said to have demanded the money to secure his release from a flat where he was reportedly being held.
Separately he was also transferred £14,000 from campaign funds to pay for private medical bills since 2020, The Times reports.
His office manager is said to have reported the claims to Mr Hart in January which prompted a party probe.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said this morning: “It sounds to me that there is potentially somebody who’s quite troubled in the mix here.”
In a statement to The Times, 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.”
A Conservative Party spokesman said: “The Conservative Party is investigating allegations made regarding a member of parliament. This process is rightfully confidential.”