Patrick Mercer accused over 'sustained and pervasive' breach of Commons rules

 
Resigned: Patrick Mercer quit before the report was published
Robin de Peyer1 May 2014
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Disgraced Tory MP Patrick Mercer committed the most "sustained and pervasive" breaches of rules ever seen by the Parliamentary sleaze watchdog, they said today.

In a damning report, the Commons Standards Committee recommended the longest suspension proposed since 1947 - with the one exception of former Labour MP Dennis MacShane who was jailed for expenses abuses.

Mr Mercer, MP for Newark in Nottinghamshire, stood down just days before the report recommended a six month suspension.

He was stung in an investigation into parliamentary questions during which he accepted £4,000 from undercover reporters from the BBC and the Daily Telegraph.

The MP offered a Westminster security pass and tabled Commons questions after being approached by a reporter posing as a lobbyist backing the business interests of Fiji in the South Pacific.

A report into his conduct, published today, called for him to donate the money he had accepted in the sting to a good cause.

"We have no powers in this matter, but we consider in the light of this he should repay the ‘consultancy fees’ or give them to a good cause, if he has not already done so," the committee said.

"We recognise Mr Mercer's contrition. Nonetheless, we consider that this breach of the rules is so serious that this apology and undertaking to stand down is inadequate."

The report added: "We are not aware of a case relating to a sitting MP which has involved such a sustained and pervasive breach of the House’s rules on registration, declaration and paid advocacy."

Under the agreement he believed he had reached with the 'lobbyists', Mr Mercer was in line to have made £24,000 over the course of the year.

He established an all-party group supporting the cause.

In a covert meeting with the bogus firm to agree consultancy fees, he said: "I do not charge a great deal of money for these things. I would normally come out at £500 per half day. So £1,000 a day."

After signing a contract with them, he was given a £4,000 payment.

In a statement announcing his resignation on Tuesday evening, he said: "As an ex-soldier I believe that when I have got something wrong you have got to fess up and get on with it.

"No point in shilly shallying and trying to avoid it. What's happened has happened and I'm ashamed of it."

Mr Mercer's resignation has triggered a by-election, to be held on June 5, in a constituency in which he held a 16,000 majority.

Ukip leader Nigel Farage, who was tipped to stand there, yesterday ruled himself out of the running.

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