Tory response to MP Mark Menzies allegations appalling, says activist

The Tory activist allegedly called by an MP in the early hours of the morning asking for money has told the BBC she is "appalled" by the party's response.

Katie Fieldhouse says Mark Menzies rang her at 03.15 GMT one December morning asking for £5,000 to pay "bad people".

Labour is calling for police to investigate Mr Menzies, who has been suspended by the Tories over claims in the Times he misused party funds.

The Fylde MP told the paper he "strongly" disputes the allegations.

The BBC has approached Mr Menzies several times but he has not responded.

Speaking through tears, lifelong Tory activist Ms Fieldhouse recounted the conversation she says she had with Mr Menzies last December.

At her home in St Anne's, Lancashire, she told the BBC, Mr Menzies told her: "I've got in with some bad people and they've got me locked in a flat and they won't let me out until I pay them £5,000."

"I said 'I beg your pardon'. He said 'it's life or death Katie, I need £5,000 from the account'."

Ms Fieldhouse said she refused to pay Mr Menzies, but claimed another activist used their personal savings to give him the money.

According to the Times, the activist eventually ended up paying £6,500 and was later reimbursed from campaign donations.

A source told the paper Mr Menzies offered to repay the funds but claimed local Tories controlling the campaign account said repayment was unnecessary.

It is understood that Labour Party chairwoman Anneliese Dodds has written to Lancashire Police calling on the force to investigate allegations against Mr Menzies.

The Conservative Party is also running an internal investigation.

The BBC did not initially name Ms Fieldhouse but she has now agreed to be named and speak publicly for the first time.

Ms Fieldhouse told the BBC she raised her concerns with the Conservative Chief Whip Simon Hart after discussing money with Mr Menzies again.

Although the Conservative Party started an investigation, Ms Fieldhouse said she was left "appalled" by the inaction.

The Times reported that the scandal was reported to the Mr Hart back in January. Since her report "nothing happened" Ms Fieldhouse said.

"I put my faith completely in the party," but the "party has let me down," she told the BBC.

She said: "I am not having this brushed under the carpet.

"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."

The Liberal Democrats have called on the prime minister's independent ethics adviser Laurie Magnus to launch an investigation into whether Mr Hart broke the ministerial code over failing to act earlier.

The Tories had selected Mr Menzies to run again in his safe seat with a 16,611 majority, but Ms Fieldhouse wants him to resign.

"I watch people go for a walk in this quiet area. Do I want them to go out and vote for a man who gets himself locked up and needs money to get him out? No."

"If he falls on his sword... go away and start afresh. That's what I would like to happen."

The Times also reported Mr Menzies used £14,000 from campaign funds to pay his personal medical bills - in several payments stretching back four years.

A source close to Mr Menzies disputed the claim that he had suggested using campaign funds to pay his medical bills, the paper reported. The money has not yet been repaid, according to the Times.

In a statement to the Times, Mr Menzies said: "I strongly dispute the allegations put to me. I have fully complied with all the rules for declarations.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he could not "comment on an investigation" into Mr Menzies "while it is happening".

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the Conservative Party had "lots of questions" to answer including why it "took so long to act and whether they've reported this to the police, who it seems to me should be involved in this".

In a separate interview, the Labour leader told broadcasters: "In the last 24 hours we have found out that the government was told months ago about this, and they seem to have sat on their hands."

A Conservative Party spokesman said the "party takes all allegations seriously and will always investigate any matters put to them" and is "investigating allegations made regarding a Member of Parliament".

"This process is rightfully confidential," the spokesman added.

Mr Menzies has been an MP since 2010 but has never been a government minister.

He grew up in Ayrshire in Scotland, where he was raised by his mother after his father, who worked in the Merchant Navy, died the month before he was born.

He attended a private secondary school under the assisted places scheme, which offered subsidised places at fee-paying schools, before studying economic and social history at Glasgow University.

A Tory activist since the age of 16, he had a career in retail before entering politics and was a graduate trainee at supermarket chain Marks & Spencer.