This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27208966
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Former Tory MP Mercer resigns after Commons suspension | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A former Tory MP has resigned after he was suspended from the Commons for six months for allegedly asking questions in Parliament in return for money. | |
Mr Mercer said he was "ashamed" of his behaviour and had decided to "fess up" by standing down straight away. | |
This will trigger a by-election in his Newark constituency in Nottinghamshire. | |
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. | 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. |
The MP for Newark has already said he will not contest the general election next year and has been serving as an independent since May 2013. | |
'Wrong' | |
In a short statement, the former soldier said he would not contest the findings of a report into his conduct, which will be published on Thursday. | |
He said he was resigning for the sake of his family and he hoped that his constituents would forgive him. | |
"As an ex-soldier, I believe that when you have got something wrong, you have got to 'fess up and get on with it," he said. | |
"What has happened, has happened. I am ashamed of it. Therefore I am going to do what I can to put it right for the constituency of Newark. | |
The BBC's deputy political editor, James Landale said a by-election would be a "huge headache" for the Conservatives. | |
Although the Conservatives have a majority of 16,000 in Newark, the seat would be a prime target for UKIP at a time when it is soaring in the polls, he added. | |
By-election | |
UKIP leader Nigel Farage has told the BBC he would "seriously" consider standing as the party's candidate if the by-election was to be held after the European Parliament elections on 22 May. | |
Under parliamentary rules, a by-election cannot be held before that date. | |
The standards committee of MPs will announce the results of a probe into Mr Mercer's conduct on Thursday. | 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. | 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. |