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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Former Tory MP Mercer resigns after Commons suspension | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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' | '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, although he had not seen its full conclusions. | |
| He said he was resigning with the "heaviest of hearts" for the sake of his family and he hoped that his constituents would "tolerate" him in the future. | |
| "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. | "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." | |
| He said that he hoped that his successor as MP for the constituency would be a Conservative. | |
| The BBC's deputy political editor, James Landale said a by-election would be a "huge headache" for the Conservatives - who have already chosen Robert Jenrick to fight the seat. | |
| 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. | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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. |