MP rejects quit call and suggests he accidentally opened porn video
Conservative Neil Parish has rejected calls to stand down immediately as an MP while being investigated for allegedly watching pornography in the Commons chamber, as he suggested he may have opened a video accidentally.
The select committee chair said he would be continuing his “duties” as an MP for Tiverton and Honiton while “cooperating fully” with investigators after he had the Tory whip suspended on Friday.
He had earlier been revealed to be the subject of the allegations, ending days of speculation after the claims surfaced during a meeting of Tory MPS on Tuesday.
Mr Parish, a 65-year-old farmer who chairs the Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, said he had referred himself to Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Kathryn Stone over “an MP’S use of their mobile phone in Parliament”.
Buthevowedtocontinueservinghisconstituentsdespitecalls to resign or at least stop attending the Commons while under investigation.
“I will be cooperating fully with any investigation, and whilst it is ongoing I will continue to perform my duties as MP for Tiverton and Honiton,” he wrote on his website.
Later asked by broadcasters if he opened something in error in the Commons, he said: “I did, but let the inquiry look at that.”
Mr Parish said he will consider his position as an MP after the result of the investigation, telling reporters: “I will not remain if I am found guilty.”
He said he told his wife on Friday afternoon, adding: “Of course it’s embarrassing and it’s embarrassing for my wife and family, so that’s my main concern at the moment.”
Conservative chief whip Chris Heaton-harris suspended Mr Parish, who has represented the Devon constituency since 2010, after they talked on Friday afternoon.
“Mr Parish has been suspended from the Conservative whip pending the outcome of that investigation,”aspokesmanfor Mr Heaton-harris said.
First the Tories looked to refer the matter to the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS), which looks into claims of bullying and sexual harassment.
It is understood that process has now started after at least one witness made a referral.
But a second investigation could be launched after Mr Parish’s commitment to refer himself to Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.
Labour’s Harriet Harman, who is the longest-standing female MP, called on Mr Parish to stand down as an MP amid the “new low for the House of Commons”.
“If this is what he has done, he should stand down from Parliament right away. It is not right for him to go through the investigation processes if that is what he has done.”
Before being identified as the MP at the centre of the storm, Mr Parish was asked about the allegations during an appearance on GB News earlier this week.
He was non-committal on whether the suspect should have the whip removed and denied there was a large cultural problem in Westminster, despite senior Conservative colleagues having decried it as being “shameful”.