Scandal-hit British lawmaker resigns after using campaign funds to pay off captors

The latest scandal to hit the British political scene involves Conservative lawmaker Mark Menzies, who allegedly used campaign funds to pay off people who were holding him hostage. Menzies, who represents the seat of Fylde in northwest England, has announced that he will not seek reelection after the Conservative Party found his behavior to be below the expected standard for members of Parliament.

According to reports from The Times of London, Menzies called a 78-year-old aide in the middle of the night, asking for funds to pay off individuals who had locked him in an apartment and were demanding money for his release. His office manager ultimately paid £6,500 from her personal bank account, which was later reimbursed from funds donated by political backers.

Despite denying the allegations, Menzies has decided to resign from the Conservative Party and will not stand in the forthcoming general election. The party’s internal investigation concluded that the payment had been authorized by a local donors group outside the Conservative Party, but highlighted a pattern of behavior that falls below the expected standards for MPs.

The opposition Labour Party has called for a police investigation into the matter, and the Conservatives have stated that they will share information with the authorities if an investigation is launched. This scandal adds to a series of ethical controversies that have plagued the Conservatives in recent years, including former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s resignation over misleading Parliament about lockdown parties.

As the country prepares for a general election later this year, both major parties are facing scrutiny over ethical issues. The Conservatives have accused Labour’s deputy leader, Angela Rayner, of tax evasion related to a property sale, with police confirming an investigation. Rayner denies any wrongdoing and remains a member of her party.