Tory MP resigns amid allegations of misusing campaign funds

MP Mark Menzies quits after scandal

A Conservative Member of Parliament, Mark Menzies, has resigned from the party and announced he will not be seeking re-election in the next general election. The decision comes after allegations surfaced that he requested £5,000 from a party volunteer to pay off individuals who were purportedly holding him captive in a flat.

Allegations and suspension

Mark Menzies, who represents Fylde, was suspended from the Conservative Party following claims that he made a late-night call to an elderly party volunteer, demanding the cash as a matter of "life and death." The situation escalated as the sum increased to £6,500, which was later reimbursed from donor funds.

Response and investigation

In response to the allegations, Lancashire Police stated they are reviewing the information concerning Mr. Menzies after a request for investigation was made by the Labour Party. Although Mr. Menzies has denied the accusations and stated that he has followed all rules for declarations, he has agreed to relinquish the Conservative whip pending the outcome of the investigation.

Conservative Party's statement

The Conservative Party has concluded its investigation into the possible misuse of funds and determined that the money sent to Mark Menzies was authorized by the relevant signatories. However, they acknowledged a pattern of behavior by the MP that falls below expected standards and have committed to retraining individuals on managing such accounts and introducing a Whistleblowing helpline.