I'm a devout Christian...I can't accept his behaviour

SCANDAL OF TORY MP'S '£5K PLEA TO PAY BAD PEOPLE'

- PAUL BYRNE and LIZZY BUCHAN

• Aide says Menzies asked for Party cash
• Bosses warned but it took months to act

A TORY volunteer who took a 3am phone call from an MP allegedly demanding money to pay off “bad people” has branded his behaviour unacceptable.

Devout Christian Katie Fieldhouse, 78, a former Lady Mayoress, says she was rung by local MP Mark Menzies on December 1.

He allegedly asked for £5,000, saying he was locked in a flat and needed to secure his release. Mr Menzies, 52, is reported to have said it was a matter of "life or death". But Ms Fieldhouse, his former campaign manager, refused and rang his office manager who apparently paid up the next day, when the sum had risen to £6,500.

She was reimbursed from a campaign fund paid for by donors, according to the Times.

Labour urged police to probe claims he misused thousands of pounds in campaign funds in Lancashire seat Fylde.

Mr Menzies, who denies the allegations against him, lost the Tory whip and was suspended as one of PM Rishi Sunak's trade envoys after the claims emerged.

But the party is facing questions over why it took so long to act.

Ms Fieldhouse yesterday told the Mirror she sounded the alarm to the Conservatives in January.

She said: "I spoke to the chief whip on January 3 and told him my concerns. I came to the conclusion that something had to be done about it because I have a great fondness for my constituency."