Disgraced former Tory MP Patrick Mercer is to quit Parliament after a sleaze watchdog was poised to recommended he should be suspended from the Commons.
Newark MP Mr Mercer, who sits as an independent, said he would not argue with the findings of the Commons Standards Committee.
The committee will report its findings on Thursday, but a Commons source confirmed that it would recommend a six-month suspension.
Mr Mercer told The Sun: “It is clear to me that the constituency of Newark needs to be represented properly. I will not argue with the findings of the committee and I can only humbly apologise.
“My military background has taught me that you must never let down the people who depend on you, and those people are my constituents of Newark. If that becomes the case, you must go without any argument.”
The resignation follows allegations that the Newark MP had set up an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) at the request of undercover reporters posing as lobbyists seeking to lift Fiji’s suspension from the Commonwealth.
Mr Mercer is alleged to have tabled Commons questions and offered a Westminster security pass after signing a deal with a lobbying firm that paid him £4,000 for seeking the readmission of Fiji to the Commonwealth.
The Newark by-election could provide an opportunity for Ukip leader Nigel Farage to contest a Westminster seat to capitalise on his party’s popularity.
Although Mr Mercer held Newark with a Conservative majority of 16,152 in 2010, the by-election will cause a headache for David Cameron – particularly if Mr Farage decides to stand.
A Ukip source said: “We are watching the situation with very close attention.
“If there is a by-election very soon after the European elections it would be quite a big deal, particularly if Ukip has given the Tories a bloody nose, we would want to run a serious and impressive candidate.”
Source Article from https://uk.news.yahoo.com/mp-quit-sleaze-ruling-181233545.html
MP to quit after sleaze ruling
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