Tory activist ‘appalled’ by party’s actions over MP

By Nick Eardley & Isabella Allen

BBC News

The Tory activist allegedly called by an MP in the early hours of the morning asking for money has told the BBC she is “appalled” by the party’s response.

Katie Fieldhouse says Mark Menzies rang her at 03.15 BST one December morning asking for £5,000 to pay “bad people”.

Police are investigating Mr Menzies, who has been suspended by the Tories, over claims he misused party funds.

He told the paper he “strongly” disputes the allegations, first published in the Times.

The BBC has approached Mr Menzies several times but he has not responded.

Labour Party chairwoman Anneliese Dodds has written to Lancashire Police calling on the force to investigate allegations against Mr Menzies.

The Conservatives have also started an internal investigation after a complaint was made.

Speaking through tears at her home in St Anne’s, Lancashire, the lifelong Tory activist Ms Fieldhouse recounted the conversation she says she had with Fylde MP Mr Menzies in December of last year.

She told the BBC: “He said: ‘I’ve got in with some bad people and they’ve got me locked in a flat and they won’t let me out until I pay them £5,000’.

“I said ‘I beg your pardon’. He said ‘it’s life or death Katie, I need £5,000 from the account’.”

Ms Fieldhouse said she would not lend Mr Menzies money but claimed another activist did from their personal savings.

According to the Times, the sum was reportedly paid later that morning, by which time it had risen to £6,500, from the personal savings of another local activist, who was reimbursed from campaign donations.

Mr Menzies offered to repay the funds but claimed local Tories who controlled the account the money came from said he didn’t need to, a source told the paper.

‘Faith’

Speaking to the BBC, Ms Fieldhouse says she raised her concerns with the Chief Whip Simon Hart after further discussion of money involving Mr Menzies.

She said Mr Hart had listened to her story and that the Conservatives started an investigation.

She became frustrated with the way the Conservative Party dealt with the complaint.

“I put my faith completely in the party… nothing happened – I heard nothing… I am appalled.”

She said her family had been loyal Conservatives for generations.

“The party has been part of my life, I’ve run every election campaign here for 40 years.

“I work myself into the ground for the party – all they hear is a 78-year-old little old lady.”

She added: “I am not having this brushed under the carpet.”

“The party has let me down. I have said; my faith in the party is like my faith in God… they’ve let me down.

“I watch people go for a walk in this quiet area. Do I want them to go out and vote for a man who gets himself locked up and needs money to get him out? No.”

The Times reported that the scandal was reported to the Mr Hart back in January.

The Liberal Democrats have called on the prime minister’s independent adviser on ethics adviser Laurie Magnus to launch an investigation into whether Mr Hart broke the ministerial code over failing to act earlier.

Mr Menzies had been chosen as the Tory candidate for the seat at the next election, where he has a majority of 16,611.

Ms Fieldhouse called for him to quit Parliament at the next election.

“If he falls on his sword… go away and start afresh. That’s what I would like to happen.”

The BBC did not initially name her but she has now agreed to be named and speak publicly.

Media caption, The Labour leader asks why the Conservative Party “took so long to act” on allegations about an MP from December.

Responding to the reports published in the Times, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “There are obviously a lot of unanswered questions in relation to these allegations.

“Not least why it seems the Conservative Party took so long to act and whether they’ve reported this to the police, who it seems to me should be involved in this.”

In a statement, Lancashire Police said: “We are aware of reports in the media relating to a serving Member of Parliament. No complaint has been made to the police at this stage.

“We will make contact with those impacted in due course to see whether they wish to make a complaint.”

The Times also reported Mr Menzies used a total of £14,000 – in several payments stretching back four years – from campaign funds to pay his personal medical bills.

A source close to Mr Menzies disputed the claim that it had been the MP’s suggestion to use campaign funds to pay his medical bills, the paper reported, but the Times says the money was not repaid.

In a statement to the Times, Mr Menzies said: “I strongly dispute the allegations put to me. I have fully complied with all the rules for declarations.

Who is Mark Menzies?

Mr Menzies has been an MP since 2010 but has never been a government minister.

He grew up in Ayrshire in Scotland, where he was raised by his mother after his father, who worked in the Merchant Navy, died the month before he was born.

He attended a private secondary school under the assisted places scheme, which offered subsidised places at fee-paying schools, before studying economic and social history at Glasgow University.

A Tory activist since the age of 16, he had a career in retail before entering politics and was a graduate trainee at supermarket chain Marks & Spencer.