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Former Tory MP Mercer to be suspended from Commons Former Tory MP Mercer to resign after Commons suspension
(35 minutes later)
A former Tory MP is to be suspended from the House of Commons for six months for allegedly asking questions in parliament in return for money. A former Tory MP is to resign after he was suspended from the Commons for six months for allegedly asking questions in Parliament in return for money.
Patrick Mercer was filmed by undercover reporters last year apparently agreeing to set up a parliamentary group to push for Fiji to return to the Commonwealth. The move to stand down immediately will trigger a by-election in his Newark constituency in Nottinghamshire.
Mr Mercer has sat as an independent MP since the allegations first emerged. He will confirm his decision when he makes a statement at 19.15 BST.
The standards committee of MPs will announce the results of a probe into his conduct on Thursday. Mr Mercer was filmed by undercover reporters last year apparently agreeing to set up a parliamentary group to push for Fiji to return to the Commonwealth.
But the committee met on Tuesday and its decision was reported by The Week magazine this afternoon. The MP for Newark has already said he will not contest the general election next year and has been serving as an independent since 2013.
A Westminster source has confirmed to the BBC that the report of a six-month sanction is correct. Mr Mercer told the Sun on Tuesday that he would stand down, and this has been confirmed by the BBC.
The Sunday Times reported last week that Mr Mercer was considering standing down immediately and forcing a by-election in his Newark constituency if he was suspended. The BBC's deputy political editor, James Landale, said it would be a "huge headache" for the Conservatives if Mr Mercer decided to quit and force a by-election.
The BBC's deputy political editor James Landale said this would be a "huge headache" for the Conservatives if it happened.
Although the Conservatives have a majority of 16,000 in the Nottinghamshire constituency, the seat would be a prime target for UKIP at a time when it is soaring in the polls, he added.Although the Conservatives have a majority of 16,000 in the Nottinghamshire constituency, the seat would be a prime target for UKIP at a time when it is soaring in the polls, he added.
The UKIP leader Nigel Farage has told the BBC he would consider standing as the party's candidate if there were to be a by-election soon. The UKIP leader Nigel Farage has told the BBC he would "seriously" consider standing as the party's candidate if there were to be a by-election after the date of the European Parliament elections on 22 May.
However, he said he would not stand if a by-election was held on the same day as the European elections.
The standards committee of MPs will announce the results of a probe into Mr Mercer's conduct on Thursday.
But the committee met on Tuesday and its decision was reported by The Week magazine this afternoon. A Westminster source has confirmed to the BBC that the report of a six-month sanction is correct.
Mr Mercer resigned the Tory whip last year after a report by BBC's Panorama claimed that he broke Parliament's lobbying rules by accepting £4,000 to lobby for business interests in Fiji.Mr Mercer resigned the Tory whip last year after a report by BBC's Panorama claimed that he broke Parliament's lobbying rules by accepting £4,000 to lobby for business interests in Fiji.
Panorama alleged that he had submitted five parliamentary questions in relation to his paid work as a lobbyist for a fake company that the programme had set up, in conjunction with the Daily Telegraph.Panorama alleged that he had submitted five parliamentary questions in relation to his paid work as a lobbyist for a fake company that the programme had set up, in conjunction with the Daily Telegraph.
Parliamentary rules prohibit MPs from accepting money "to ask a parliamentary question, table a motion, introduce a bill, table an amendment to a motion or a bill, or urge colleagues or ministers to do so".Parliamentary rules prohibit MPs from accepting money "to ask a parliamentary question, table a motion, introduce a bill, table an amendment to a motion or a bill, or urge colleagues or ministers to do so".
The Newark MP said he took the money for consultancy work outside Parliament but referred himself to Parliament's standards watchdog.The Newark MP said he took the money for consultancy work outside Parliament but referred himself to Parliament's standards watchdog.
The BBC has tried to contact Mr Mercer but he is not responding to messages.The BBC has tried to contact Mr Mercer but he is not responding to messages.