Tory whip withdrawn from allowances-row MP

(PA)

Conservative leader David Cameron withdrew the party whip from a backbench MP today amid new demands for a second sleaze inquiry and a police investigation into his use of parliamentary allowances to pay his son.

Mr Cameron signalled last night that Derek Conway would not be excluded from the parliamentary party following yesterday's critical report by the House of Commons Standards and Privileges Committee.

But pressure was stepped up this morning after claims that the Old Bexley and Sidcup MP had handed thousands of pounds to a second son for little apparent work.

Following Mr Conway's apology to the Commons yesterday, Mr Cameron asked Conservative Chief Whip Patrick McLoughlin to speak to the MP this morning.

In a statement, Mr Cameron said: "The usual procedure in these cases is to leave the punishment to the House of Commons authorities. However, having asked the Chief Whip to speak again to Mr Conway and having personally reflected overnight, I have decided to withdraw the Conservative whip from Mr Conway."