Mark Menzies: MP's political future in doubt after male escort allegations

Mark Menzies says he looks forward to setting the record straight after resigning as a ministerial aide

The political future of a Conservative MP who resigned as a ministerial aide over his alleged links to a Brazilian male escort was in doubt on Sunday night.

Mark Menzies, the MP for Fylde, quit as a parliamentary private secretary (PPS) following claims he paid the teenager for sex and asked him to buy drugs.

A senior figure in his local constituency association, Brenda Ackers, did not rule out Mr Menzies having to step down as the MP for the Lancashire constituency.

Councillor Ackers, the chairwoman of Fylde Conservatives until last week, said it depended “very much on the extent of the allegations” and pointed to the “criminal element” among the claims.

Asked how local Tory members would react to the allegations, Coun Ackers said: “They will have their own view when he explains the full extent of them.”

Mr Menzies, 42, said after his resignation as a PPS: “A number of these allegations are not true and I look forward to setting the record straight in due course.”

Tory MP David Ruffley told Sky News: “I think that 30 years ago it would be automatic resignation if an MP was in a difficulty like this.”

But he added: “It's always sad when a career like this gets on to the front page of a tabloid. But Government rocked? I don't think so.”