Allegations that ex-Tory MP Menzies misused party funds referred to police

Allegations that the MP Mark Menzies misused campaign funds have been referred to Lancashire police.

The force said yesterday it was reviewing the available information after receiving a letter “detailing concerns around this matter”.

The Fylde MP lost the Conservative whip and was suspended as one of Rishi Sunak’s trade envoys after the Times published claims he had used political donations to cover

medical expenses and pay off “bad people”. Menzies disputes the allegations. The Tory party said it was looking into the claims and took them seriously.

His former campaign manager, who allegedly received a late-night phone call from him asking for cash, has said she felt “let down” by the party after she raised concerns with the chief whip, Simon Hart.

Menzies is said to have called 78-year-old Katie Fieldhouse at 3.15am one day in December and asked for £5,000 to pay “bad people” who had detained him in a flat.

She said the party had failed to act after she reported the incident to Hart in early January, with Menzies only resigning the whip on Thursday.

Fieldhouse said: “I put my faith completely in the party … nothing

happened – I heard nothing … I am appalled. 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.”

Fieldhouse said she did not give Menzies the money he requested.

Menzies said on Thursday: “I strongly dispute the allegations put to me. I have fully complied with all the rules for declarations. As there is an investigation ongoing, I will not be commenting further.”

‘I am appalled ... I work myself into the ground for the party’

Katie Fieldhouse

Tory party activist