- Lancashire Police examine allegations against suspended Conservative MP
- MP Mark Menzies accused of misusing Tory funds, abusing power
- Labour Party urges police probe into Menzies’ alleged actions
Police in Lancashire have stated that they are examining evidence about allegations against Mark Menzies, a suspended Conservative MP.
Friday morning, the Labour Party issued a letter to the police requesting an investigation.
Prosecuting an activist for money to pay off “bad people” has purportedly constituted an attempt by the MP to misappropriate Tory funds and abuse his position of authority.
He has requested the withdrawal of the Tory whip pending the outcome of an investigation by the party into the allegations, which he has stated he “disputes.”
Earlier, Anneliese Dodds, chairperson of the Labour Party, urged Lancashire Police to investigate a letter.
The force stated that it had obtained a letter containing concerns regarding this subject; further examination of the available information is underway.
Katie Fieldhouse, his 78-year-old former campaign manager, claims that one December evening at 03:15, Mr. Menzies called and demanded £5,000 to compensate “bad people” who had locked him in his flat.
Ms. Fieldhouse stated that she declined to remunerate Mr. Menzies, but asserted that another activist transferred the funds from their assets.
The Times reports that the activist ultimately paid £6,500 and was subsequently reimbursed by a local fund established to assist with his campaign.
According to The Times, Mr. Menzies paid his medical expenses with £14,000 from the fund over four years in multiple installments.
The paper reported that a source close to Mr. Menzies refuted the allegation that he had proposed using campaign funds to pay his medical expenses. Per the Times, the money has not been repaid as of yet.
Menzies issued the following statement to the Times: “I categorically deny the accusations that have been leveled against me. I have complied in their entirety with all declaration regulations.
“Serious inquiries”
Ms. Fieldhouse has expressed her “appalled” disbelief regarding the inaction that has ensued after her conversations with Conservative chief whip Simon Hart.
According to The Times, Mr. Hart was informed of the scandal in January. After her report, “nothing has transpired,” Ms. Fieldhouse stated.
Earlier, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer stated that the government’s handling of the allegations raised “extremely serious concerns.”
The Conservative Party considers all allegations seriously and will always conduct an investigation, according to a spokesman for the organization.
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Since 2010, Mr. Menzies, who was also suspended as a government trade envoy to South America, has served as the Member of Parliament for the Fylde constituency in Lancashire.
The local Conservative party has endorsed him to return to the constituency for the upcoming election, in which he currently holds a 16,611-vote majority.
In Ayrshire, Scotland, he was reared by his mother following the untimely demise of his Merchant Navy-employed father one month before his birth.
He attended a private secondary school under the assisted places scheme, which provided subsidized places at fee-paying institutions, before enrolling at Glasgow University to study economic and social history.
Preceding his political activism at the age of sixteen, he pursued a retail career and worked as a graduate trainee at retail behemoth Marks & Spencer.
