Conservative MP suspended over claims of watching porn in Parliament

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Britain's ruling Conservative party on Friday suspended one of its MPs pending an investigation into claims he watched pornography on his mobile phone in the House of Commons chamber.

The identification of MP Neil Parish, 65, ends days of speculation since the allegation emerged on Tuesday, amid accusations of a misogynistic environment in Parliament.

"Having spoken to the Chief Whip this afternoon, Neil Parish MP is reporting himself to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards," confirmed a spokesperson for Chief Whip Chris Heaton-Harris, who is in charge of the Conservative party discipline.

According to the Spokesperson, "Parish has been suspended from the Conservative whip pending the outcome of that investigation."

Parish should stand down as MP

On his website, Parish wrote that "following recent allegations regarding an MP's use of their mobile phone in parliament, I have referred myself to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards in the House of Commons."

He said he would cooperate with any investigation and continue to perform his duties as MP for Tiverton and Honiton in southwest England, despite calls for his resignation.

Harriet Harman, from the opposition Labour party - known as the Mother of the House as the longest-serving female MP - considered that Parish should stand down as MP.

"If this is what he has done, he should stand down from parliament right away. It is not right for him to go through the investigation processes if that is what he has done," she told BBC radio.

At least 56 MPs probed over sexual misconduct allegations

Parish, who chairs the Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, was questioned about the porn allegation on Wednesday before he had been publicly identified.

"I think the whips office will do a thorough investigation and we will wait and see that result and I think from that then the decision will have to be made what action will be taken," Parish told GB News.

At least 56 MPs, including three ministers, are currently being probed over allegations of sexual misconduct by parliament's own complaints office.

The Conservative party has been accused of misogyny after the Mail on Sunday last week quoted unnamed Tory MPs accusing the deputy leader of the opposition Labour party, Angela Rayner, of trying to seduce Prime Minister Boris Johnson.