Tory MP Mark Menzies' controversies from Brazilian escort, drunk dog claim and donor fund allegations
The MirrorApr 18
UK: Tory MP Suspended Over Alleged Misuse of Campaign Funds
The Facts
The UK's ruling Conservative Party has suspended MP Mark Menzies following a report by The Times claiming the lawmaker had used £6.5K ($8.1K) of his office manager's savings — who was later reimbursed from campaign funds — to pay off "bad people."
Menzies is accused of calling his 78-year-old campaign manager at 3.15 a.m. local time last December, stating that he was locked in his flat and needed the money as a matter of "life and death."
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Having been caught up in a string of controversies since becoming an MP in 2010, further scandals concerning Mark Menzies should, in reality, come as no surprise. From allegations of paying for a teenage escort, getting a dog drunk, and instances of disorderly behavior, it's clear that Menzies is unfit to hold office as an MP in Westminster.
Establishment-critical narrative
Despite taking a turn for the worse during Johnson's premiership, parliamentary ethics have steadily declined for decades. This problem can't be tackled by suspending lawmakers — a systematic overhaul is overdue and entirely necessary if the UK is to root out the malpractice that has undermined Westminster's ability to serve its people properly for far too long.
Nerd narrative
There's a 95% chance that Labour will have a majority in the House of Commons after the next UK General Election, according to the Metaculus prediction community.