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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. Patrick Mercer said he was "ashamed" and had decided to "fess up" by standing down straightaway.
This will trigger a by-election in his Newark constituency in Nottinghamshire. This will trigger a by-election in his Newark constituency in Nottinghamshire, which he has represented since 2001.
The UKIP leader Nigel Farage has said he will decide in the next 24 hours whether to stand in the by-election.
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 had already said he would not contest the general election next year and had 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. In a short statement, the former soldier said he would not contest the findings of a report into his conduct, to be published on Thursday, which will call for him to be barred from Parliament for six months.
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. He said he was resigning with "a great heaviness of heart" 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. "I am 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." "No point shilly-shallying or trying to avoid it. 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 MP, a prominent critic of David Cameron who was sacked as a shadow minister in 2007, 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. BBC 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-electionBy-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 will decide on Wednesday whether to stand in the by-election, the date of which will be decided in the coming days.
Under parliamentary rules, a by-election cannot be held before that date. Under parliamentary rules, a by-election cannot be held before the date of the European Parliament elections on 22 May, thus removing one potential obstacle to Mr Farage - who is seeking re-election as an MEP - putting his name forward.
The standards committee of MPs will announce the results of a probe into Mr Mercer's conduct on Thursday. The standards committee of MPs met on Tuesday to discuss Mr Mercer's case and its decision was reported by The Week magazine on Tuesday 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. At the time, Mr Mercer 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.