Mark Menzies: Tories investigate MP after 'bad people' cash claims
Fylde MP will sit as an independent while party looks into allegations he misused campaign funds on medical expenses and blackmail pay-out

Rebecca Messina, The Week UK
The Conservative Party has withdrawn the whip from MP Mark Menzies while it investigates claims he misused donations from supporters.
He is said to have called his 78-year-old former campaign manager, who has not been named, at 3am one night in December saying he had been locked in a flat by "bad people" and asking for £5,000 from a bank account that contained supporter donations.
When she was unable to transfer the money due to the late hour, he "became angry, allegedly telling her it was 'a matter of life and death'", said The Times . Menzies's constituency office manager, Shirley Green, is said to have "stumped up" an eventual sum of £6,500 a few hours later and was repaid from the campaign fund.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Menzies "strongly" disputes the claims, said the BBC.
The MP for Fylde in Lancashire also used £14,000 from donations to pay for private medical expenses, claimed The Times. A source close to Menzies "argued that paying the medical bills helped to keep Menzies functioning as an MP and were a legitimate use of the funds", said the paper.
However, one donor said he had been "told by Menzies that the money would be used for campaigning" and called for a police investigation.
The claims against Menzies were reported to the party in January, "but the wheels of party justice have turned slowly", said The Times.
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said it was "frankly appalling" that the Conservatives had been aware of the allegations for more than three months.
The Conservative Party has confirmed that it is investigating the allegations, while Menzies is "continuing with plans to stand at the next election", The Times said.
Menzies becomes the 18th MP currently sitting in Parliament as an independent, following a "series of scandals and disciplinary problems", said The Independent.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Arion McNicoll is a freelance writer at The Week Digital and was previously the UK website’s editor. He has also held senior editorial roles at CNN, The Times and The Sunday Times. Along with his writing work, he co-hosts “Today in History with The Retrospectors”, Rethink Audio’s flagship daily podcast, and is a regular panellist (and occasional stand-in host) on “The Week Unwrapped”. He is also a judge for The Publisher Podcast Awards.
-
'Self-segregation by political affiliation is spreading'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
7 places across the country to experience the best of summer drinking
The Week Recommends Stops include a Basque-inspired spot and a bar where the menu overhauls twice a year
-
Amazon's robotaxi looks to be Waymo's biggest competitor
In the Spotlight The company recently opened a new robotaxi production plant in California
-
'Self-segregation by political affiliation is spreading'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Judges order release of 2 high-profile migrants
Speed Read Kilmar Ábrego García is back in the US and Mahmoud Khalil is allowed to go home — for now
-
US assessing bomb damage to Iran nuclear sites
Speed Read Trump claims this weekend's US bombing obliterated Tehran's nuclear program, while JD Vance insists the US is 'not at war with Iran'
-
Army commissions tech execs as officer recruits
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Some of the tech industry's most powerful players are answering the call of Uncle Sam
-
'The Minnesota attacks join a grim catalog of political violence'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Court allows National Guard in LA as Dodgers repel feds
Speed Read The team said they 'denied entry' to ICE agents seeking to enter their stadium
-
ICE arrests NYC comptroller at courthouse
Speed Read Brad Lander was held for about four hours before being released
-
DNC rocked by high-profile departures as future is in question
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Generational shifts, ambiguous priorities, and the intensifying dangers of the Trump administration have pushed the organization into uncertain territory