Labour has stated the accusations versus Mark Menzies necessitate a cops examination
PA Media
Lancashire Police has stated it is “evaluating” a letter in relation to claims versus Fylde MP Mark Menzies, who is implicated of misusing project funds.
Mr Menzies lost the Conservative whip and was suspended as one of Rishi Sunak‘s trade envoys after The Times released claims he had actually utilized political contributions to cover medical costs and settle “bad individuals” who had actually locked him in a flat and required countless pounds for his release.
Mr Menzies challenges the accusations and the Tory Celebration has stated it is checking out the claims and takes them seriously.
In a declaration on Friday night, a Lancashire Police representative stated: “We can validate that we have actually now gotten a letter detailing issues around this matter and we remain in the procedure of evaluating the readily available info in more information.”
Previously on Friday, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer informed broadcasters the Conservative Party appear to have “rested on their hands” over the problem.
“In the last 24 hours we have actually learnt that the Government was informed months ago about this, and they appear to have actually rested on their hands,” he stated.
“If they believed they might sweep this under the carpet in some way they were undoubtedly extremely incorrect which is why I believe there are really major concerns now that requirement to be responded to.
“Not simply by the specific however likewise by the Government on this.”
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey stepped up his require the Prime Minister’s independent advisor on ministers’ interests, Sir Laurie Magnus, to examine the claims.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated it is “ideal” that Mr Menzies resigned the celebration whip amidst claims he misused project funds.
Learn more
Asked by a press reporter if he must give up as Fylde MP, the Prime Minister stated: “It’s best that Mark Menzies has actually resigned the Conservative whip.
“He’s been suspended from his position as a trade envoy whilst the examinations into those claims continue.
“For our part I can’t talk about our continuous examination while it’s taking place, and he’s no longer a Conservative MP, as I stated.”
A senior Tory activist who was apparently called by Mr Menzies requiring ₤ 5,000 to settle some “bad individuals” stated she is “horrified” by the method the celebration has actually reacted to the scandal.
Katie Fieldhouse declares Mr Menzies called her at 3.15 remain in the early morning last December and stated he required the money due to the fact that he remained in a “life or death” circumstance.
Mr Menzies was suspended by the Conservative celebration, and as a Trade Envoy to Colombia, today after claims he misused celebration funds and abused his position.
He has “highly” contested the accusations.
From her home in St Anne’s, Lancashire, Ms Fieldhouse stated she got the morning call from the MP in December in 2015.
The 78-year-old informed the BBC: “He stated: ‘I’ve ingratiated some bad individuals and they’ve got me secured a flat and they will not let me out up until I pay them ₤ 5,000’.
“I stated ‘I ask your pardon’. He stated ‘it’s life or death Katie, I require ₤ 5,000 from the account’.”
Ms Fieldhouse informed Mr Menzies she would not provide him the cash, however it was presumably paid by another regional activist later on that early morning by which time the expense had actually supposedly increased to ₤ 6,500.
The life-long Tory stated she had actually increased interest in the celebration’s Chief Whip Simon Hart after more conversations about cash including Mr Menzies.
She stated Mr Hart had actually listened to her story and however ended up being disappointed with the method the Conservative Party handled the problem.
“I put my faith entirely in the celebration … absolutely nothing occurred – I heard absolutely nothing … I am horrified,” she included.
“The celebration has actually become part of my life, I’ve run every election project here for 40 years.
“I am not having this brushed under the carpet.”
It comes as Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride on Friday rejected declares the Conservative Party is withstanding going to the cops over claims Mr Menzies misused project funds. He informed Times Radio: “I’m not clearly linked to all the ins and outs of this scenario.
“What I do understand for sure is that the celebration has actually gotten rid of the whip from Mark Menzies and is examining this circumstance which will be performed in an extremely comprehensive way.”