Rishi Sunak is facing a new headache after a Tory MP was suspended over allegations of misuse of campaign funds.
The Times newspaper report on Mark Menzies is the last dirty line to rattle the Conservatives since the Prime Minister walked into Downing Street with a promise to bring “integrity and accountability” to government.
Having sought to draw a line under Boris Johnson’s scandal-hit era, problems continued to mount for Sunak.
Sky News looks at the MPs who have been suspended during their term of office so far.
Marcos Menzies
Fylde MP Menzies lost his Conservative seat and was suspended as one of Rishi Sunak’s business envoys after The Times published allegations that he had used political donations to cover medical expenses and pay off “bad people” who locked him in an apartment and demanded thousands of dollars. of pounds for his release.
Menzies, who will now sit as an independent MP, disputes the allegations but has “agreed to resign as Conservative whip pending the outcome of an investigation”, Chief Whip Simon Hart said.
Sunak faces questions over how the complaints were handled, with reports suggesting the party was aware of the allegations for more than three months.
Sky News understands there was an ongoing investigation by Conservative Campaign Headquarters into Mr Menzies, but more information came to light following the newspaper’s report and Mr Hart acted immediately.
William Wrag
William Wragg, the MP for Hazel Grove in Greater Manchester, also gave up the whip after admitting to The Times that he had given his colleagues’ phone numbers to someone he met on a dating app.
The senior backbencher apologized and said the person “had compromising things with me. They wouldn’t leave me alone.”
William Wrag. Photo: PA/UK Parliament
Wragg praised for dignity
Scotland Yard later said it was investigating reports of a so-called “honeytrap” scam, after it was suggested that at least 12 men in political circles received unsolicited messages, raising security concerns.
Wragg’s decision to voluntarily give up the whip sparked criticism within Tory ranks, with a senior Tory source telling Sky News: “Rishi is so weak that Wragg decided he would have to step down.”
Lee Anderson
Lee Anderson has since defected to Reform UK. Photo: Reuters
Former party vice-president Lee Anderson has had his whip suspended over “Islamophobic” comments he made about Sadiq Khan.
The MP for Ashfield, who since he defected to the reformist party, said he believed that “Islamists” had “gained control” of the Mayor of London, saying: “He actually handed over our capital to his friends.”
A day later, Khan accused the prime minister of being “accomplice” of racism for not having condemned Mr Anderson‘s comments that “they add fuel to the fire of anti-Muslim hatred”.
Lee Anderson says the Reform Party will be “an important force”
Mr Anderson was finally suspendedwith Chief Whip Mr Hart saying this was due to his “failure to apologise”.
Anderson said at the time that he “fully accepts” that the party has to suspend him – adding that he “will continue to support the government’s efforts to expose extremism in all its forms – be it anti-Semitism or Islamophobia”.
Scott Benton
Scott Benton was suspended last April after suggesting to undercover reporters at The Times that he would be willing to break lobbying rules for money.
A subsequent parliamentary investigation concluded that he had committed a “very serious breach” of the rules and recommended that he be suspended from the House of Commons for 35 days, a punishment supported by MPs.
Former Conservative MP Scott Benton. Photo: PA
Benton resigned before this could happen, triggering a by-election in his Blackpool South constituency, which will coincide with next month’s local elections.
He denied any wrongdoing and appealed the suspension but the decision was maintained. Had he not resigned, he would have been removed from his position via a recall petition that would have triggered a by-election if 10% of eligible voters in the area supported it.
Bob Stewart
Bob Stewart, who represents Beckenham in south-east London, surrendered the party whip after he was found guilty of a racially aggravated public order offence.
Representative Bob Stewart. Photo: PA
The conviction was overturned on appeal in Februarybut he did not have the whip restored.
Stewart was convicted after telling Bahraini refugee Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei to “go back to Bahrain” during the incident in December 2022.
In quashing the decision, Judge Bennathan said that although the words constituted abuse, they were not believed to have caused Mr Alwadaei harassment, alarm or distress.
Crispin Blunt
Former minister Crispin Blunt has had his whip suspended pending the outcome of a police investigation into allegations of rape and possession of controlled substances, which he denies.
Crispin Blunt identified himself as an MP who was arrested last October
Rep. Reigate announced his arrest in October, calling it “unnecessary” but saying he was ready to cooperate and “I am confident it will end without charge.”
Blunt said he does not intend to run in the next election. In January he was released on bail until April.
Pedro Osso
Peter Bone was removed in a recall petition
Disgraced former Conservative MP Peter Bone has lost his seat after being removed by constituents in a recall petition. The move came after he was suspended as an MP over allegations of bullying and sexual misconduct, which he denies.
Mr Bone’s partner was chosen to run as his replacement in the subsequent Wellingborough by-election. Labor managed to achieve a swing of 28.5% – the biggest swing in this parliament at the time.
Chris Pincher
Chris Pincher’s allegations led to Boris Johnson’s downfall
Former Deputy Chief Whip Chris Pincher leave parliament disgraced after losing his appeal against a House of Commons suspension following allegations made in June 2022.
The allegations led to the downfall of Boris Johnsonafter it emerged, the then prime minister was aware of an investigation into his conduct three years earlier but still appointed him to a role in his government involving the welfare of parliamentarians.
Pincher did not appeal the rule violation, but argued to the Independent Expert Panel (IEP) that the punishment was disproportionate.
Labor won the Tamworth by-election. Photo: PA
His resignation triggered a by-election in his Tamworth seat in October, which the Conservatives lost to Labour.
Keep up with the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
David Warburton
David Warburton resigned his place at Somerton and Frome last summer while being investigated for allegations of sexual misconduct. Warburton, who was suspended over the allegations 14 months earlier, denied making unwanted advances but admitted drug use.
David Warburton, the former MP for Somerton and Frome
In his resignation letter, he said he was denied a fair hearing by the Independent Complaints and Complaints System (ICGS) and prevented from “speaking openly” while it investigated the allegations.
An independent panel later concluded that the investigation into allegations that he sexually harassed someone was “materially defective“, but said it made “no findings regarding the merits of the complaint against the defendant, or regarding the allegation that the complaint was fabricated.”
Juliano Cavaleiro
Juliano Cavaleiro. Photo: PA
Juan Knight was suspended as conservator after a serious allegation of sexual assault was made against him.
The Solihull MP has always maintained his innocence and in April last year the Metropolitan Police dropped the investigation without questioning it.
But he remained suspended from the Conservative party as the party boss said “further complaints” had been made against him.
Mr Knight announced that it would be resigning in the next elections as a result.
Andrew Bridgen
Bridgen was expelled from the Conservative Party last year after comparing COVID vaccines to the Holocaust.
Andrew Bridgen kicked out over COVID vaccine comments
The North West Leicestershire MP claimed he was told by a “consultant cardiologist” that COVID injections were “causing serious harm”, adding that the vaccine program was “the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust”.
He stood by his comments after his expulsion, saying he would use his “newfound freedom” as an independent MP “to fight for justice for all those harmed, injured and bereaved due to government incompetence”.
Matt Hancock
Former health secretary Matt Hancock
Matt Hancock resigned as health secretary in disgrace during the pandemic when he was caught having an affair with his aide and now girlfriend, Gina Coladangelo, violating his own social distancing rules.
But it was her appearance on the reality show I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! this caused him to lose his whip.
Hancock was heavily criticized by MPs, including Sunak, who said MPs should spend their time “serving constituents”.
This story originally appeared on News.sky.com read the full story
