How a Tory MP ended up making a desperate 3am phone call to beg for £5,000 | The inside story

"Mark rang his former campaign manager, a 78 year old woman, and told her that he'd fallen in with bad people and was being detained against his will in a flat by people that were only going to let him out if he paid them £5,000."
A Times investigation has revealed allegations that the MP Mark Menzies misused thousands of pounds of campaign funds for his own private expenses. The Times's Billy Kenber reports that CCHQ was aware of the allegations for months before removing the Conservative whip after the Times investigation was published.
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00:00 The Times's Billy Kenber reports
05:20 Defence secretary Grant Shapps answers questions on the allegations to Times Radio Breakfast
06:59 House of Commons leader Penny Mordaunt addresses the allegations

[@muirislandjim453]

Menzies has not been suspended because of the allegations, he's been suspended because we found out. The Tories knew 3 months ago.

[@31Blaize]

Yep. Mixed reporting on whether he's had the whip removed or resigned it himself as well. Insane that they've covered this up since Jan when the police should have been involved.

[@jeffdingle9677]

@@31Blaize The SNP got a visit from the Police when thay had issues with inappropriate use of party-funds. So it's his turn next....

[@steveharrison4176]

so did the Times.

[@Rayblondie]

They appear to be hard only on the people that tell the truth like Andrew Bridgen and Suella Braverman sacked from the cabinet. This stuff speaks volumes.

[@cassandra2249]

Yep, not a single decent one among them.

[@jasoncooper9391]

The man who shouted his mouth off about Rayner 😂

[@richardjones8699]

Doesn't look good re either frankly.

[@edmurth]

@@richardjones8699except one is a hit job organised by a billionaire tax dodger, his political party and their client press, all so people like you say they’re all the same.

[@ljt3084]

⁠@@richardjones8699 Not sure how Rayners mistake of £1500 tax on a council house sale equates to any of the 11 tory MPs misdemeanours, largely sexual related scandals or the £29 million PPE scandal of Michele Mone that we are no longer hearing about.

[@anthonyferris8912]

@@ljt3084 I think it's for the legal authorities to decide if it's a mistake.

[@VesiustheBoneCruncher]

@@anthonyferris8912absolutely - which is why it would have been helpful for the Tory party leadership to report this three months ago to the police and the electoral commission rather than conceal it - something which I believe is in itself criminal, and bluntly, the real story here.

[@davidwelsh332]

The sewer really has burst, hasn't it?

[@nopants3560]

the scraping of the barrel has moved down to the lower mantle

[@Chris-xv2gm]

Have you?

[@elloco1996]

They should have paid the £5,000 on the condition they keep Mark Menzies, preferably never to be seen again.

[@MrDeadhead1952]

It's clearly a case of misappropriation of funds and as such a criminal offence.

[@willtricks9432]

Is that Montgomery Burns cackling in his mansion?

[@GerryT.]

Starmer should take great pleasure in embarrassing Sunak and his MPs slating Rayner. And Synak wont be able to say they acted immediately...they didnt, theyve sat in it when the police should have been involved.

[@nancyreid2416]

She stole in a different way.

[@houldenc22]

No she really didn't, but she's offered to repay if there is anything owing

[@BenRobinson1974]

Nothing about this is extraordinary. This is entirely ordinary for this bunch of crooks.

[@ivanconnolly7332]

The whip was surgically removed, from a very dark place!.

[@user-oi6ln4eq7b]

A gimp-wimp?

[@ianpounder692]

Should the police be involved as it appears to be a case of embezzling campaign funds.

[@andrewoliver8930]

Yes.

[@jujutrini8412]

Embezzlement is a criminal offence, so yes.

[@samthompson7568]

Being a tory means you need to have your bank accounts watched.....much like they're suggesting for people in receipt of benefits.

[@samthompson7568]

To be clear, if you are a member of the conservative party, you're a fool paying into a criminal organisation.

[@andrewoliver8930]

They accuse the others of what they are guilty of. Projection.

[@GerryT.]

Police should make it clear to the Tory MP that if he is found to be lying he will be prosecured .

[@timbanks7344]

The police should be investigating already.

[@GerryT.]

@@timbanks7344 Starmer should destroy Sunak next week as PMQs. The Tories so quick to comment on Rayner, this is far worse, and seems the Tories have been sat on it instead of getting the police involved. If Sunak says he only became aware of it yesterday, Starmer should ask for proof.

[@georgec7899]

CROOKSERVATIVES seems APT!

[@martinfleet8772]

The croonies at it again... They steal more than some criminals and no one does anything,time and time again !

[@monged4life442]

@@GerryT. Whats the point, saying anything about this will just be responded with "I've taken swift action (a lie), and he can talk, given Angela Rayners tax situation! (irrelevant)". Maybe he'll mention Jeremy Corbyn too if that isn't convincing enough. PMQs is completely pointless these days.

[@anatolipek8549]

All tories disgust me, not one of them has any morals.

[@Blonde_Somnambulist]

Labour are worse , they all feed from the same trough. Corruption abounds at Westminster.

[@rallan1953]

Honestly, it's not just the Tories. The ruling class are corrupted and decadent.

[@stephenmackenzie8920]

All politicians disgust me

[@patrik-vw4ek]

​@@Blonde_Somnambulistyeah...kier starmer let savile off the hook...Blair was caught harassing men in public toilets...Tory ,labour their all filth.

[@derekrobinson5554]

Anybody know who we are going to vote for,come the election 😂

[@TimesFM4532]

Sounds like the police should be involved

[@davidjupp961]

Yes but they're all too busy with Angela Raynors 10 year old house sale

[@johanlourens723]

Campaign manager couldn't find their number!

[@if6was985]

Sounds like his dealer wanted his cash...fast.

[@timbanks7344]

Everyone who new in January and kept quiet should step down.

[@julianshepherd2038]

Trade delegate to.... Columbia. ____________ ____________. ____________

[@MrDeadhead1952]

So he's in charge of increasing availability of marching powder then?

[@if6was985]

​@MrDeadhead1952 only if it came here in a Diplomatic bag...

[@Jeffoneil.BanburyHairSalon.]

@@MrDeadhead1952 His colleagues have started calling him Mark "nose candy" Menzies.

[@luisrodrigues1630]

Minister for vacuum cleaning and sausage tasting

[@terrancedactielle5460]

Standard corrupt Tory. The fact that the party knew 3 months ago but did nothing is not really in line with Rishis promise of integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level.

[@user-ri1ti6go7s]

He, sounds a very very not nice person involved in dark goings on

[@georgec7899]

Rishis PROMISE LOL LOL LOL

[@glenncheatham1320]

🤦🏻‍♂️🙄Backpedaling as fast as they can. Again.

[@jasoncooper9391]

And there's me thinking that the Tories are clean of scandals 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂oh dear James daly

[@slacker2101]

Aren't there any legal ramifications? Especially serious if the party knew all about it for some time. In Scotland the police are involved in a party finance scandal; why not here?

[@johnbennett9630]

So was/is the entire "get Rayner campaign" carried out to pre-empt this scandal the the tories knew was about to break?

[@andrewoliver8930]

Looks like it. Their media buddies will do their best to sidetrack the public.

[@GarethMachin-rb2sg]

The tory party has been sitting on this for over 3 months this is the true scandal. I hope the electoral commission and the police now get involved. The tory party should be prosecuted for knowingly harbouring a criminal. The tory party never had much of a moral compass. Know the compass has disappeared.

[@HistoryonYouTube]

If Mr Menzies had fallen in with bad people who were holding him against his will, why didn't the party person call the police there and then?

[@monged4life442]

That isn't conservative party policy.

[@HistoryonYouTube]

@@monged4life442 I think the people who were holding him against his will were the local Conservative party activists!

[@user-we8gk7pe2s]

Probably our next PM perfect credentials

[@lucasjames7524]

"Not commenting while things are under active investigation" is a lovely all-purpose shield to try to avoid talking about things.

[@monged4life442]

Funny how they're still able to talk loudly about Angela Rayner while she's under investigation isn't it?

[@KaiColloquoun-gt7kw]

What name was Schapps using in this interview?

[@user-oi6ln4eq7b]

Job well done - what's the newspaper industry equivalent of a Nobel Prize?

[@Jan-se1nd]

As a Dane, I've tried to imagine how this would have played out had it happened to a Danish member of Folketinget (parliament), and I just can't... It's honestly easier for me to imagine a unicorn strolling down the halls of Christiansborg while conversing with other members of parliament. This is how ridiculous and perverse your political system has become, in my view, dear Brits,

[@carlpierce2486]

Having the 'whip' removed will upset him immensely. It is his favourite bit of the job.

[@raypurchase801]

I wonder which orifice he keeps it in.

[@woodencreatures]

Angela Raynor anybody? The comparison is stark. Strange that the tories are not calling for a police investigation

[@frank-caroltrott6131]

16 times more than the sum apparently owed by Angela Rayner in Capital Gains Tax. Did he pay VAT on this bribe?

[@Mannie303]

Yet these guys want to go on about Angela Reynar and froth at the mouth. Meanwhile....the Tories will Tory 🤷‍♂️

[@glennk6675]

I'm shocked!!😮 Another tory sleeze scandle. Who would've thought🤷‍♂️

[@thomasdolan2244]

This is shocking but, lets be honest, there are millions if not billions of £ missing or misappropriated that we don't know about

[@adamkennedy7297]

Like what the snp did? 😂

[@FRU.No.1]

Lie after lie after lie after lie after lie.... Also why wouldn't a minister on £100k plus for years and years not have £5k in his bank account and has to go begging to employees at 3am? None of this smells right.

[@Anon-xd3cf]

He's clearly snorted a bunch of stuff then tried to TOFF his way out of a dispute with dealers... When it was discovered he couldnt pay for what he had snorted.

[@georgec7899]

The ODOR from the TORIES is overwhelming!!!

[@Jeffoneil.BanburyHairSalon.]

He's spent all his money on immigrant rent boys and nose candy.

[@katrinabryce]

If other allegations are true, then the money went on funding a drug addiction.

[@willtricks9432]

Classic can pay, won't pay.

[@2412Bec]

🙈🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ okay.... if he isnt arrested and spends time in prison then the uk justice system is "tiered"

[@raypurchase801]

Will the last white heterosexual Conservative MP please switch off the lights as he leaves Central Office.

[@JelMain]

Too late.

[@raypurchase801]

@@JelMain I dunno whether to laugh or weep.

[@billyf5591]

😂😂😂!.

[@edmurth]

Which whip was removed? I suspect he has quite the collection.

[@ianmccuaig9867]

We are paying for these criminals jail him for embezzlement

[@davidnelmes5357]

A,matter for the police.

[@lazslostpierre9951]

Great job Billy!

[@AndyRossism]

I assume the likes of Mail and GBNews will be on this as passionately as they went for Radnor , in fact even more so....but I won't hold my breath

[@AndyRossism]

*Raynor

[@Redsleather]

Don’t forget the Tory cheerleaders the BBC and Laura Kuenssberg who are just as bad

[@Bobbydyland]

He's going to need access to those funds to pay legal expenses now....

[@brianjupp1748]

I think this one will need at least 30 police officers

[@hughthomson6870]

seems to be alot if criminals in conservative party

[@bryandewar2453]

where are the blue tents ????

[@neilsailing]

Never mind all that.........Rayners outrage should be what we should be talking about......😡😤.......🤣🤣

[@alastairwallace6153]

Yet will this be ininvestigated by police and splashed all over the media?

[@w.urlitzer1869]

3 AM urgent need for cash? that's usually a need to pay for 2 things, both starting with a D. one can only wonder if the medical expenses resulted from this, too.

[@gavinsmith9564]

Brexiteer, what do people expect...

[@raypurchase801]

A raging queen, what do you expect...

[@blaxtru]

The Honourable Mark Menzies. Irony surely died during the last scandal or the one before that or the one before......

[@tellthetruthandshamethedev2489]

Tory ,labour, liberal, green, are all the same,different colour feathers on the same bird. We all need to vote for no confidence in the lot of them,we the people need to take back our power of democracy, and fairness and truth. We can govern ourselves. And fair well financially and equally.

[@brendasmith1093]

The calibre of MP's these days is far below what is expected, no wonder the country is in the state its in, too much out of work or during work shenanigans to concentrate on the job they are supposed to be doing.

[@andrewoliver8930]

Who's done wrong in this case?

[@Royboy50]

Probably for re-constructive surgery on the you know what ,ha ha ha you can’t make this stuff up

[@lcg8220]

I believe that's 3 & 1/4th Angela Raynors. Though realistically its ∞ Angela Raynors since I'm pretty sure shes going to be found to have done absolutely nothing wrong.

[@GabrielA-mw4in]

This is worse than the end of the Major era. What are these MPs to, dating apps, blackmail, borrowing money due to being held hostage somewhere...

[@blqeddie2946]

As we say in Italy "il più pulito ha la rogna"... Which means "the cleanest (Tory) has mange" 😂❤🇮🇹

[@billyf5591]

😂😂😂!!.class.

[@KingofPotatoPeople]

I can’t believe we even live in a universe where Grant Shapps is a front bench politician.

[@martinfleet8772]

I've said time and time again, literally most of croony MPs are all doing this.. Their knicking off us all the time..!

[@liberalmatt]

This has echoes of Stephen Milligan back in the 90s, though that sad case was all of his own volition. I've never looked at oranges the same way since...

[@steveharrison4176]

The Times has had this story for 3 months but has spent the last 2 weeks going after Raynors alleged 12000 quid ,shows who their masters really are.

[@monged4life442]

What are you talking about? The conservative party have had this for 3 months. They were hardly going to share it with the Times day one and would much rather it hadn't been leaked to them now.

[@corndog527]

Not aware the should be aware of it 3 months ago.

[@keithfowler2013]

He should have given Boris Johnson a ring. He always seems able to raise a loan ??????😂😂

[@andrewoliver8930]

Media needs to concentrate on more of these things rather than tittle tattle and opinion. Good stuff.

[@johanlourens723]

Only 5K? Cheap skate. Shame, the campaign manager didn't have the telephone number of the police ... so, out of desperation she paid the baddies out of her own pocket. I feel for her up to the point she when was reimbursed out of campaign funds.

[@MrTzimisces]

See this IS a story, unlike the Rayner stuff you guys are desperate to stick

[@anthonyferris8912]

How do they find these people? 🤑😂

[@duckndive.]

I wonder if journalists are ever investigated. Not that I support any MP'S.

[@evophantom]

The new information being that it was being published in a newspaper presumably.

[@Richard-pe4cx]

imagine if a mamber of the labour party did anything like this 3 months !

[@flyinghedgehog3833]

I know nothing ! Is he from Barcelona?

[@FunnyBunny-pd5xx]

His constituency.......FYLDE is a very affluent area of Lancashire. (It is geographically "next door" to Blackpool)

[@Kiss_My_Art]

Well done Billy, great investigating ! 👍

[@duncanbedford4765]

Did he try to resist the rent boys illegal entry !!?? Suits you sir !Booo!😂

[@Jessjoe1956]

Yeh but Angela Rayner, yeh but Jeremy Corbin, yeh but************************

[@martinwyke]

What sort of shady characters are 'really nasty' people and add £1500 in interest?

[@TERRYKOPITE1]

Shouldn’t have Dealers coming to you at all hours

[@ef4638]

Right before elections...

[@grahamturner1290]

Another day in Toryworld.

[@dazzwsmith]

And theres currently 12 officers investigating Angela Rayner for a potential tax avoidance of up to £3000 that cannt be prosecuted because it was more than 10 years ago. Tories influencing the police?

[@steveharrison4176]

very true and very odd that as the limitation of criminal an HMRC time for possible prosecution has past ,why are the police involved as they cannot possible prosecute ?

[@jackpirie7382]

Shapps/Green says that Menzies is "very troubled" aye because he has been caught. Remember he has "form" for being with "rent boy/s and drugs.

[@richardfinnigan7458]

"Smash the people smuggler gangs." Sir Kier? You must know that the demand for that criminal behaviour must be addressed. Lets see people as valuable resource, we have a low birth rate, we need to manage migration internationally so very few people want to pay a people smuggler.

[@timsimmons5953]

Angela Rayner. People in glass houses should not throw stones. Locked in a room by bad people, Tories I should think.

[@Craiga3885]

Gotta pay those tick bills

[@Anon-xd3cf]

My thoughts exactly... 😅 Looks like he ran up a debt with a dealer who got fed up waiting to get paid.

[@Craiga3885]

@@Anon-xd3cf we all been there lol

[@danielpeate8366]

Where are all the 400 labours officials that have been arrested the last 3 years... with some disgusting charges!!????

[@RickPeake01]

Senior investigator... waiting on a lead.. missed the real story by reporting on the cover up they allowed you to hear about.. and 😂... then follow..

[@ColonelKurtz69]

LOVELY JUBBLYS

[@ludgang5]

Another con man’ , how can the Tories claim to be the party of law and order

[@ksay7649]

how bizarre

[@dannyjonze]

wasnt this in an episode of 'the new statesman'?

[@mariacrouch7109]

WOW 😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳

[@jasoncooper9391]

Michael Green 😂😂😂😂😂

[@michaelcoomes7670]

This is false ,he has been suspended because he's been paying for migrant boys like he was in 2014, this is all a cover up.

[@timbanks7344]

Someone should be auditing his bank account as we speak.

[@richardbarrow6606]

He Eat the Poo Poo 😊

[@davidprentice5442]

The Rayner smear campaign is now explained.

[@jedimasterbazz]

My only takeaway from this is that some people have £5000 in savings 😭

[@daviddack1595]

Enough is Enough, A general Election Must Be Called Now. Re-Join The EU.

[@davidfarrar2454]

Its piffle, lets move on, what about Rayner!

[@raymondadams7570]

the word tory should be removed from the headline because all the parties are the same

[@adamedge128]

No other party's are not like the tories!!!!!!

[@ArjunGhag-ix7te]

All 4 main parties are sickening to most voter's. We want Churchill & Wilson back. Not unelected Sunak or beergate partygate brexit blocking jimmy savile scandal stained Starmer or police interrogated Sturgeon or negligent PO sub master suicides scandal Ed Davey. Most voters despise these 4 main parties.

[@alana8863]

If you want to make false allegations against Starmer don't be a little snowflake - send them to Labour Party HQ. Starmer will be happy to teach you a lesson in court. No, most people despise the constant corruption of the Tories. No party will be free of scandal, but the Tories are corrupt beyond belief.

[@KaiColloquoun-gt7kw]

Tory smears "every body does it"

[@davidbarrett1006]

@ArjunGhag-ix7te Here we go again, wheel out the Brexit Blocker and Saville myths despite the numbers not supporting the former and the fact that of the four women interviewed by the Police none were prepared to testify in the case of the latter. If you are going to throw mud, make sure it's at the right people for the right reasons.

[@carlpierce2486]

Nonsense.

[@in_paradiso_58]

Calm down, it's not our fault you ain't received your free blackshirt and jackboots from the Daily Heil Fail, contact their Bunker and tell them directly...