I warned the Tories about Menzies three months ago

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

TORY chiefs were alerted to a Scots-born MP allegedly pleading for Party cash to pay "bad people" three months ago, it is claimed.

Aide Katie Fieldhouse, 78, said she contacted the Chief Whip after Fylde MP Mark Menzies, 52, made a 3am call to ask for £5000 to free him from a flat in a "life or death" matter.

She said: "I put my faith in the Party to deal with him. I cannot accept his behaviour." Fieldhouse, a former Lady Mayoress, says she was rung by local MP Menzies on December 1.

She turned down his request and rang his office manager who apparently paid up the next day, when the sum had risen to £6500.

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.