Suspended Tory MP Neil Parish is likely to quit today after being accused of watching pornography in the House of Commons.
The Tiverton and Honiton was yesterday suspended by the party after two fellow Tory MPs complained to the chief whip about his behaviour.
He referred himself to Parliament’s Standards Commissioner, but as recently as last night had vowed to remain an MP and as chair of the Environment committee while an investigation was underway.
He’s now expected to announce that he’ll step down by the end of today, triggering a by-election in his Devon constituency.
He would be the second Tory MP to quit this week, after Imran Ahmed Khan quit as the MP for Wakefield, after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy.
Mr Khan submitted his resignation on Monday and that it was effective from 30 April, meaning he will be paid his full April salary.
Mr Parish said last night that he had looked at something “in error”, but wouldn’t give further details.
He later said he had made “a complete mistake, and I will man up to it as they say".
And he said his wife had “married a f****** idiot.”
Tory sources today said Mr Parish was likely to resign by the end of the day, but said nothing is confirmed.
But last night he resisted calls to quit, saying he would wait for the outcome of the investigation.
He said in a statement on his website he "will be co-operating fully with any investigation, and whilst it is ongoing I will continue to perform my duties".
Tory safeguarding minister Rachel Maclean suggested this morning that the "appropriate measures will be put in place" to protect Neil Parish's constituents.
Senior Conservative Caroline Nokes said it will be "difficult" for Mr Parish to spend the required time in Parliament as a select committee chair.
She also accused the Tory whips of "dither and delay" in not suspending the MP from the parliamentary party until Friday, despite colleagues airing the claims in a meeting three days earlier.
