DISGRACED MP Neil Parish said last night he will quit, after he admitted viewing pornography in the House of Commons chamber – and claimed he stumbled across it by accident as he searched for tractors on the internet.
He initially hoped to cling on to his seat by explaining himself to a Commons inquiry but announced his resignation after an outpouring of anger from MPs in all parties.
“I could see the furore, the damage I was causing my family and my constituency,” said Mr Parish.
While he claimed the first incident of watching porn in Parliament came after an online hunt for tractors, he admitted there were no excuses for a second viewing, while waiting to vote in the Commons.
The senior MP, who chairs the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, admitted: “What I did was absolutely, totally wrong.”
It means there will be a by-election in his Devon constituency of Tiverton and Honiton, where the Conservatives were victorious with a majority of 24,239 in 2019.
The Prime Minister now faces two potentially difficult by- elections, with another poll expected in marginal Wakefield, where MP Imran Ahmad Khan has tendered his resignation after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy.
Explaining himself in a BBC interview, Mr Parish, 65, said: “Funnily enough, it was tractors I was looking at. I did get into another website that had a very similar name and I watched it for a bit which I shouldn’t have done.
“But my crime – biggest crime – is that on another occasion I went in a second time.”
Bu hikaye Sunday Express dergisinin May 01, 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Sunday Express dergisinin May 01, 2022 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
'ENGLAND MUST NAIL MASTER PLAN TO TOPPLE ALLBLACKS'
ELLIOT DALY has revealed the master plan to beat the All Blacks at Twickenham next weekend - and he should know what it is.
TEN HAG STILL ON TIGHTROPE
IF Erik ten Hag needs an opinion on how ruthless Sir Jim Ratcliffe is then he should give Fergie a call.
Tables turned as O'Neil inspires a last-gasp revival
IT was not the maiden win Wolves craved but this felt as good as any victory.
My hospital patients have no idea I write Hollywood blockbusters on days off
SHE IS one of America's bestselling authors with a host of celebrity fans such as Victoria Beckham and Michelle Keegan, both of whom have been spotted reading her novels.
Family plead with killer to reveal where mum hidden
THE killer of Sarah Wellgreen should reveal where he hid her body to give her family closure six years after she disappeared.
'I've found Lucan hiding in Australia'
THE SON of Lord Lucan's murder victim Sandra Rivett believes he has finally tracke( down the fugitive aristocrat in Australia - and will name him for the first time on TV Neil Berriman tells how he is convinced he has cracked one of British history's biggest murder mysteries in a new BBC three-part documentary, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the crime.
Outspoken Haigh and Lammy set for chop in reshuffle
LABOUR insiders are braced for a post-Christmas reshuffle as the Prime Minister relaunches his Government following the resignation of Sue Gray.
Jezza: m not allowed fun after heart op
FORMER Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson says he's \"not allowed to have fun any more\" after heart surgery.
Jenrick calls for school fees VAT relief for 'brave' Armed Forces
TORY leadership candidate Robert Jenrick made a late plea to force families to be spared VAT on school fees.
Kemi: Right leader could kick Keir out in one term
KEMI Badenoch is entering the Conservative leadership race's last week with a plea for Tory voters who backed Reform UK to \"come home\".
