And a further £14,000 was spent on private medical bills. He strongly disputes the claims, according to the times. The Conservative Party was made aware of the allegations three months ago. It says its investigating. 0ur Political Correspondent nick eardley reports 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 m
and fewer cancer patients starting treatment within the two month target. there were more than 591,000 patients on treatment waiting lists in wales in february, the highest number recorded. the coventry building society has agreed to buy the co operative bank for £780 million. the deal would eventually see the private equity owned lender return to mutual ownership. the agreement needs the backing of members and the regulator, and would create a merged group, with assets worth £89 billion. it s two weeks until the local elections in england and wales for councillors and police and crime commissioners. voters will also be electing ten metropolitan mayors. the conservatives andy street has been mayor of the west midlands which stretches from wolverhampton to coventry since 2017. this will be the third time he s standing but polls suggest he s well behind labour. 0ur political editor,