Mark Menzies: Tory activist who reported MP over alleged misuse of funds disappointed by party response

19 April 2024, 10:47 | Updated: 19 April 2024, 13:32

A Tory activist who reported an MP over claims he misused party funds has told Sky News she is disappointed by the way her complaint has been handled.

Mark Menzies voluntarily quit the Conservative parliamentary party this week after a report in The Times claimed he called his ex-campaign manager Katie Fieldhouse, 78, early one day to say he was locked in a flat by "bad people" and needed £5,000 as a matter of "life and death".

The sum, which rose to £6,500, was eventually paid by his office manager from her personal bank account and subsequently reimbursed from funds raised from donors in an account named Fylde Westminster Group, the newspaper said.

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But despite the incident taking place in December - and Ms Fieldhouse submitting her complaint in January - the Fylde MP had remained part of the parliamentary party and as a trade envoy for the government until the press reports surfaced.

He has now lost the Conservative whip and was suspended as one of Rishi Sunak's envoys.

Mr Menzies strongly disputes the claims, which also include accusations he used campaign funds to pay his personal medical bills.

Speaking to Sky News' Frazer Maude, Ms Fieldhouse said: "I am feeling dreadful because I am a devout Tory and as I have said to everybody else, I reported his actions to the chief whip… it is now the middle of April.

"Come to your own conclusions [about] what is happening."

Asked if she was disappointed with the way the complaint was being handled, she said: "Yes."

And asked if Mr Menzies should step down, she added: "It is for his conscience and the party to deal with. I have put my faith in the party, it is for them to deal with it."

Mr Sunak was also asked by reporters on Friday whether his former colleague should quit the Commons, and why it had taken until now for the party to act, but he said he would not comment while an investigation was being carried out.

Instead, the prime minister said: "It's right that Mark Menzies has resigned the Conservative whip. He's been suspended from his position as a trade envoy whilst the investigations into those allegations continue.

"For our part, I can't comment on an ongoing investigation while it's happening and he's no longer a Conservative MP."

Meanwhile, the Labour Party has written to Lancashire Police to demand an investigation into allegations of fraud and misconduct in public office.

Leader Sir Keir Starmer told broadcasters that the Conservatives "seem to have sat on their hands" over the allegations.

He added: "If they thought they could sweep this under the carpet somehow they were obviously very mistaken and that is why I think there are very serious questions now that need to be answered - not just by the individual but also by the government on this."

And the Liberal Democrats have called for the ministerial ethics adviser to investigate chief whip Simon Hart's handling of the complaint.

(c) Sky News 2024: Mark Menzies: Tory activist who reported MP over alleged misuse of funds disappointed by party response