It has been claimed Fylde MP Mark Menzies allegedly called a former campaign manager to ask for £5,000 as he was locked in flat “with some bad people”
A Tory MP is under investigation for allegedly misusing campaign funds and abusing his position, it has been reported.
Fylde MP Mark Menzies is facing a party probe over alleged claims he called an elderly former campaign manager at 3.15am to ask for £5,000 as he was locked in a flat with “some bad people”. According to the Times, the woman refused and called his office manager who later stumped up the sum, which had risen to £6,500.
His staffer allegedly paid the cash from her personal bank account and was later reimbursed from a campaign fund paid for by donors. Mr Menzies has strongly denied the allegations. Mr Menzies was stripped of the Tory whip while the investigation was underway. He will now sit as an independent MP.
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.” A source close to Mr Menzies told the paper he had offered to repay this sum but claimed local Tories who ran the account said he did not need to.
Separately, it is alleged that £14,000 from donors for use on Tory campaign activities was paid into his private bank account and used for his private medical expenses. Mr Menzies, a Government trade envoy, allegedly has not repaid this money, according to the Times. A source close to the MP claimed that donors would have been happy to donate but were not asked to to avoid disclosing personal medical details.
They argued that it was a legitimate use of the funds as it allowed him to continue to work as an MP. The former campaign manager reportedly informed the Conservative chief whip in January about the allegations but no action has yet been taken. The allegations have not been confirmed independently by the Mirror.
Mr Menzies told the Times: “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.”
