here the conservatives have suspended one of their mps, mark menzies, from the parliamentary party after claims in the times newspaper that he misused party funds. mr menzies, who represents fylde in lancashire, told the paper that he strongly disputed the allegations. let s go live to westminster and our chief political correspondent, henry zeffman. who is he and what exactly is he alleged to have done? you who is he and what exactly is he alleged to have done? who is he and what exactly is he alleged to have done? you are right to use the word alleged to have done? you are right to use the word alleged alleged to have done? you are right to use the word alleged because - to use the word alleged because these are just allegations at this stage and pretty serious and pretty peculiar allegations. according to the times newspaper back in december mark menzies, who has been the conservative mp for a constituency in lancashire since 2010, back in december he rang up his 78 year old fo
so the honesty needs to start now. the lack of clarity needs to stop. this was mark menzies last week in a local campaign video. when this was filmed, he was still a conservative mp. but last night he was suspended from the party. it came after allegations in a newspaper that he used funds from donors to pay thousands to so called bad people who had apparently locked him in a flat. the bbc has checked details of some of the allegations printed in the times this morning that mr menzies called a 78 year old local activist in the middle of the night, asking for money. it is claimed he said he was being detained against his will, that he needed money as a matter of life or death. the £6,500 was provided by a local activist, the money was then reimbursed from donations to the local party. in his fylde constituency this afternoon, no sign of mr menzies. at the address given for the local party offices, there was no response. but he did tell the times, i strongly dispute the allegations
by a local activist, the money was then reimbursed from donations to the local party. in his fylde constituency this afternoon, no sign of mr menzies. at the address given for the local party offices, there was no response. but he did tell the times, i strongly dispute the allegations put to me. i fully complied with all the rules for declaration. there is anger, though, among some tory activists that more wasn t done to address the case after the allegations were first raised in january. i understand that cchq have been aware of it for a while, and have been investigating. i think some new information has come to light, subsequently. there are obviously a lot of unanswered questions in relation to these allegations. not least why it seems the conservative party took so long to act, and whether they have reported this to the police, who it seems to me should be involved in this. it s not the first time mr menzies has faced controversy.
United Utilities Water Limited have been fined £800,000 after illegally abstracting 22 billion litres of water from boreholes in Lancashire following a prosecution by the Environment Agency
Nicola Bulley: Huge search operation for missing woman continues as drones, divers, helicopters and mountain rescue deployed lancs.live - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from lancs.live Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.