Newark MP resigns party whip
The MP for Newark, Mr Patrick Mercer has today resigned the Conservative Party whip and told the Advertiser he will not contest the next General Election.
Both the Daily Telegraph and the BBC Panorama programme are reporting they will give details of
what they describe as a major lobbying scandal.
In a statement, Patrick Mercer said: “Panorama are planning to broadcast a programme alleging that I have broken Parliamentary rules.
"I am taking legal advice about these allegations – and I have referred myself to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.
"In the meantime, to save my Party embarrassment, I have resigned the Conservative Whip and have so informed Sir George Young. I have also decided not to stand at the next General Election.”
A Conservative spokesman said: "The PM is aware.
"He thinks Patrick Mercer has done the right thing in referring himself to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and resigning the whip.
It’s important that the due processes take their course.”
Mr Mercer, 57, said he intends to continue as the MP for Newark but as an independent rather than a Tory.
In a statement, the chairman of the Newark Conservative Association, Mr Stuart Wallace, said: "In light of the allegations, Patrick has decided to resign the party whip while a proper investigation is undertaken.
"Until such time as the investigation is concluded, Patrick will be an independent member of Parliament and not subject to the rules of the local party.
"He has always been a dedicated, hard working and popular local MP, and we will be saddened if these allegations are proven.
"Until such time as a full and proper investigation, in line with British justice, we will neither pre-judge or pre-empt the outcome."
He declined to comment further, except to confirm that he had spoken to Mr Mercer in his role as chairman of the constituency party.
Mrs Maureen Stockwood, deputy chairman political for the Newark Conservative Association, declined to comment on the news saying: "I don't want to pre-judge."
Mr Mercer is the son of an Anglican Bishop.
Educated at the King’s School, Chester, Oxford University and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, he has a degree in history.
Mr Mercer has written several history books and has expanded into fiction.
After Oxford University he joined Nottinghamshire’s regiment, the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters.
He served nine tours of duty in Northern Ireland and served in Germany, Canada, Uganda, Brunei, and the Balkans.
Mentioned in despatches in 1983 and commended for gallantry in 1990, he was made MBE in 1992 and OBE in 1996.
Leaving the Army in 1999 with the rank of colonel, and having commanded the battalion, Mr Mercer joined the
media working in defence reporting.
He became the prospective Parliamentary candidate for Newark in 2000.
In 2001, he won the Labour-held seat of Newark and Retford converting a Labour majority of 3,000 to a Conservative majority of just over 4,000.
Mr Mercer held the front-bench post of Shadow Minister for Homeland Security from June, 2003.
In March 2007 he was sacked by the party leader, Mr David Cameron, over comments regarding soldiers from ethnic minorities.
He has previously been openly critical about the Prime Minister.
More to follow.