Ex-Tory MP Mark Menzies Accused of Misusing Party Funds Amid Fraud Allegations

Former Conservative MP Mark Menzies is facing allegations of misusing campaign funds, which may have constituted fraud, according to a whistleblower who claims the Conservative Party failed to properly address the issue. Menzies, who lost the Conservative whip and was suspended as one of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's trade envoys, disputes the allegations.

Katie Fieldhouse, Menzies' former campaign manager, told The Times that a senior Tory official informed her the party had received legal advice suggesting the allegations amounted to fraud. However, they were reportedly advised by a solicitor that they were not duty-bound to report it since the money came from donors, not the party's own funds.

The allegations against Menzies include using political donations to cover medical expenses and pay off "bad people" who had allegedly locked him in a flat and demanded thousands of pounds for his release. Fieldhouse claims she felt "let down" by the party after raising concerns with Conservative chief whip Simon Hart in January.

The Conservative Party stated it has been investigating the claims for several months and will share any information with the police if necessary. Lancashire Police confirmed they are reviewing the available information after receiving a request from the Labour Party.

Why this matters: The allegations against Menzies have sparked criticism of the Conservative Party's handling of the case, with opposition parties calling for an investigation into the advice received by the Prime Minister and Chief Whip. The incident raises questions about the party's response to potential fraud and the effectiveness of its internal processes for addressing such issues.

Labour chairwoman Anneliese Dodds called for the Prime Minister and Chief Whip to explain what advice they received, stating that if they were warned about potentially fraudulent activity and chose not to go to the police, it would be "indefensible". The Liberal Democrats have also called for the Prime Minister's independent adviser on ministers' interests to investigate the handling of the case.

Key Takeaways

• Former MP Mark Menzies accused of misusing campaign funds, possibly fraud.
• Whistleblower claims Conservative Party failed to properly address the allegations.
• Party received legal advice that allegations amounted to fraud but didn't report it.
• Labour and Lib Dems call for investigation into PM and Chief Whip's handling.
• Police reviewing information after request from Labour Party.