Neil Parish to be expelled from Tory party if convicted, minister says
Conservative MP Caroline Knox has accused her party of “kneeling and delaying” action against Neil Parish following allegations that he watched pornography in the House of Commons.
Two colleagues reported Mr Parish, an MP from Tiverton and Honiton, on the Tories’ main whip on Tuesday, but his name was not made public until Friday, after which he was removed from the parliamentary party.
Ms Knox, chair of the Municipal Commission for Women and Equality, said earlier on BBC Radio 4’s Today that the detention “feels like unnecessary hesitation and delay”. However, she did not go so far as to call on her colleague to resign before the investigation was completed.
This is the result of criticism from inter-party lawmakers, some of whom have accused the Tories of “shameful” behavior in delaying the decision to name and sanction Mr Parish. Caroline Dinanege, a Conservative MP who sits on the committee chaired by Ms Knox, said she could not see “Mr Parish’s position sustainable” and called for the decision to allow him to remain an MP for the time being ” completely strange. “
Key points
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Watch: Parish must be expelled from the Tory party if convicted, says minister
Neil Parish to be expelled from Tory party if convicted, minister says
Hancock itself April 30, 2022 09:45
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The Tories party is “very funny” under the prime minister, the former minister said
The Conservative Party has become “very lazy” under Boris Johnson, a former women’s minister said.
Speaking after the removal of MP Neil Parish from the party for watching porn in the Municipal Hall, Anne Milton said she was “angry” that those at the top of the party failed to set an example by showing high standards of conduct, including because of the Partygate scandal.
Ms. Milton, who served in the governments of David Cameron and Theresa May but was stripped of her Tories by Johnson for refusing to vote for Brexit without a deal and lost her seat in Guildford after 14 years as an independent in 2019. said women had been given a less important role under the current leader.
Asked if there is a culture of sexism in the Tories, she told BBC Radio 4’s Today: “It’s been more than two years since I left politics and I feel it has gotten worse.
Our political editor Andrew Woodcock also has:
Hancock himself April 30, 2022 09:27
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Tories are accused of “blurring and slowing down” when working with a porn MP
Let us now hear more from Tory MP Caroline Knox, who accused the conservative whips of “fun and delay” in removing Neil Parish from the parliamentary party on charges of watching pornography in the municipality.
Two colleagues reported Mr Parish to Chief Whipper Chris Heaton-Harris on Tuesday, but his name was not made public until Friday.
“I felt I left it until Friday before we found out that the whips had taken action, that I felt it was an unnecessary hesitation and delay,” Ms Knox told BBC Radio 4.
Appearing on the program Today after Ms. Knox, Secretary of Defense Rachel McLean added: “I agree with almost everything she said. I think it is right that action has been taken, that the main whip has taken the action it has taken. It obviously took some time to establish the truth, the facts of the case. “
Telling Mr Parish that he did not deny watching pornography, she said: “That’s right, he wasn’t.”
Hancock itself April 30, 2022 09:15
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A senior Tory doubts Parish’s ability to do business while under review
A senior Tory MP says it will be “difficult” for Neil Parish to spend the necessary time in parliament while he is under investigation for allegedly watching pornography in the municipal hall.
Caroline Knox, chair of the Committee on Women and Equality, did not call on her colleague to resign immediately, saying on BBC Radio 4’s Today program: “I think it is right that investigations are carried out before any further action is taken. actions.
However, when asked if Mr Parish should continue as chairman of an elected committee, she said: “This is an issue that Neil needs to discuss with party whips and take a position, but I think that while he is under investigation , this will make it very difficult for him to be in the Municipalities as much as he needs to.
Mr Parish, who was named the infamous MP watching porn yesterday, is currently chairing the Committee on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
(PA)
Hancock itself April 30, 2022 08:57
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Watch: Parish speaks in the Commons debate the day after the accusation that he watched porn
MP Neil Parish spoke in the municipal debate one day after the accusation that he watched porn
Hancock itself April 30, 2022 08:39
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Labor: “Shameful” delay by Tories in action over Commons porn MP
Labor has accused the Conservative whips of delaying action against a lawmaker accused of watching pornography in parliament, saying it was “shameful” that it was three days before Neil Parish was removed from the party and sent to investigate.
The 65-year-old MP from Tiverton and Honiton is believed to have been identified as the boss of Chris Heaton-Harris by two women MPs on Tuesday, but his name was not disclosed until Friday when he introduced himself to Commons Commissioner Catherine Stone.
Although he insists he will not leave parliament while the investigation is under way, Mr Parish is under pressure from fellow Tories to resign immediately, with Caroline Dinenej, who sits on the Committee on Women and Equality, saying: “I don’t see how his position is stable. It’s just weird. “
Our political editor Andrew Woodcock reports:
Hancock himself April 30, 2022 08:36
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The minister rejects calls for Parish to resign immediately
Ever since Rachel McLean now, who, despite saying that Neil Parish should be expelled from the Tories if he is found guilty of watching porn in the Municipalities, has rejected his calls to resign immediately.
Asked if it was appropriate for him to continue, Ms McLean told Times Radio that she “truly” believed it was “a matter for him”.
But she continued: “Of course, there are stable processes in support of the electorate, every member of society who wants to see his MP, and all these issues are very much at the forefront of the investigation system we have.
“It is clear that if people are being investigated for certain problems, it is right to take this into account in how they perform their duties.
Asked if she showed double standards, Ms McLean insisted that this was not “normal business” for Mr Parish due to the fact that he was under investigation. “And I am confident that appropriate measures will be put in place to protect each of his constituents, especially women and girls,” she added.
Hancock itself April 30, 2022 08:25
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Parish must be expelled from the party if convicted, says a Tory minister
Defense Secretary Rachel McLean is touring the media this morning on behalf of the government.
Asked about Neil Parish’s porn saga, Ms McLean maintains that her colleague should be expelled from the party if convicted.
However, she said it was right that the investigation be conducted before any action against Mr Parish was taken by the Tory party.
“It is clear that if this is justified and these allegations turn out to be true, of course I support what I said, but at the same time there is an investigation now, so it would not be useful for me to speculate on the concrete results,” she said. to Sky News, adding:
“This type of behavior has no place in any workplace, let alone parliament, but I think everyone would accept that when there is an accusation … it’s not really for us, as colleagues, to judge another colleague, this is for this process.
“I have complete confidence in the main whip, it works incredibly fast, I don’t see why the investigation can’t end very quickly, and I’m sure that appropriate action will follow.”
Hancock itself April 30, 2022 08:16
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Labor is calling for Parish to resign “immediately” if the allegations are true
Harriet Harman – the longest-serving female MP in the municipality – insisted that the Tory MP under investigation for alleged pornography in the municipalities should leave “immediately” if the allegations are true.
The Labor MP said the incident was a “new downturn” for Westminster.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4 after Mr Parish’s name became public, Ms Harman said: “If he has done so, he must resign from parliament immediately.
“It is not right for him to go through the investigation if he has done that. He is clearly not fit to be in parliament. He must accept this and not pull the process out. “
In addition to Ms. Harman, Labor shadow leader Thangam Debbonaire has expressed anger at the government, accusing it of knowing about “disgusting behavior” for days and trying to “cover it up”.
Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper has called on Boris Johnson to “tell Neil Parish to resign immediately”.
SNP Environment Committee member Kirsty Blackman said Mr Parish should at least resign as chairman of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee.
Hancock itself April 30, 2022 08:07
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Parish’s full statement on the porn investigation
Here is the full statement on Neil Parish’s website, which clearly shows his intention to continue acting as an MP until the investigation against him is over:
“After the latest accusations about the use of my mobile phone by a member of parliament, I turned to the parliamentary commissioner for standards in the House of Commons.
“I will fully cooperate in any investigation and while it is underway, I will continue to perform my duties as an MP …
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