Tory MP Mark Menzies loses whip as investigation launched into claims he misused campaign funds
18 April 2024, 00:45 | Updated: 18 April 2024, 09:59
MP Mark Menzies has given up the Conservative Party whip after an investigation was launched over claims he misused campaign funds.
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Mr Menzies says he "strongly disputes" the allegations made against him but the Tory Party is looking into the claims.
He will now sit as an independent MP in the House of Commons until the investigation is concluded.
The MP for Fylde in Lancashire stands accused of transferring £14,000 of donor funds intended for use on Tory campaign activities to his personal bank accounts and instead used them for private medical expenses.
In 2020, he sought £3,000 to cover medical bills, but did not repay the money - instead asking for a further £4,000, according to the Times.
In a statement, 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."
The paper said a source close to the MP disputed this account and said the former campaign manager had been the one who suggested Mr Menzies use funds from the business account to pay his personal medical expenses, but she is understood to deny this.
A further £7,000 was received by Mr Menzies from the account in November, it is alleged.
A Conservative Party spokesman added: "The Conservative Party is investigating allegations made regarding a Member of Parliament. This process is rightfully confidential.
"The party takes all allegations seriously and will always investigate any matters put to them."
Mr Menzies also faces claims he made a late-night call to a 78-year-old aide asking for help because he had been locked up by "bad people" demanding thousands of pounds for his release.
He is said to have called his former campaign manager at 3.15am one morning in December, claiming he was locked in a flat and needed £5,000 as a matter of "life and death".
The sum then rose to £6,500 and was eventually paid by his office manager from her personal bank account before being reimbursed from funds raised from donors, it is alleged.
A source close to Mr Menzies said he had met a man on an online dating website and went to his flat.
He then allegedly went with another man to a second address where he continued drinking.
Mr Menzies was sick at one point and several people at the address demanded £5,000, claiming it was for cleaning up and other expenses.
The source said Mr Menzies decided to pay them because he was scared of what would happen otherwise, but did not have the funds to transfer the money from his own savings.
In a statement to the paper, 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.
"The party takes all allegations seriously and will always investigate any matters put to them."
A spokesperson 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.”
