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Former Tory MP Mercer to resign after Commons suspension Former Tory MP Mercer resigns after Commons suspension
(35 minutes later)
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. 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.
The move to stand down immediately will trigger a by-election in his Newark constituency in Nottinghamshire. Mr Mercer said he was "ashamed" of his behaviour and had decided to "fess up" by standing down straight away.
He will confirm his decision when he makes a statement at 19.15 BST. 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 2013. 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.
Mr Mercer told the Sun on Tuesday that he would stand down, and this has been confirmed by the BBC. 'Wrong'
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. 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.
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. He said he was resigning for the sake of his family and he hoped that his constituents would forgive him.
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. "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.
However, he said he would not stand if a by-election was held on the same day as the European elections. "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.