An inquiry has been launched into the incident
An MP who allegedly watched pornographic material whilst in the House of Commons earlier this week has claimed that he may have opened it on his phone by mistake.
The identity of the MP in question was revealed yesterday to be Neil Parish, Conservative MP for Tiverton and Honiton. Earlier this week Tory MPs met to discuss sexual harassment at Westminster and two MPs complained about a colleague watching porn on separate occasions.
Parish had the whip removed on Friday and has referred himself for inquiry.
According to reports from the BBC – he has refused to resign immediately as an MP or in his role as the head of the environmental select committee until the inquiry concludes.
“Of course it’s embarrassing,” admitted Parish, speaking to the BBC on Friday. “And it’s embarrassing for my wife and family, and so that’s my main concern at the moment. I have a very supportive wife and I thank her for that.”
However when quizzed on whether the incident was indeed a mistake, Parish said: “I will await the findings of the inquiry.”
When asked if he opened something on his phone, he replied: “I did, but let the inquiry look at that.”
If “found guilty”, Parish’s punishment could vary – with responses ranging from simply apologising to the commons, to full expulsion.
Parish has so far said that he will fully cooperate with the ongoing inquiry and refrain from commenting on the situation further until the results of its outcome have been revealed.
If found to have brought the Commons into disrepute, the MP has said he will resign following the incident and upset caused, reiterating that he “apologise[s] for that”.
However according to a statement recently released on Parish’s website, he suggested that he will continue his duties as MP for Tiverton and Honiton in the meantime.
Related links:
- NAMED: Tory MP caught watching pornography in the House of Commons
- Mail on Sunday editor refuses to meet speaker over Rayner story – Raab says that’s fine
- Speaker summons Mail on Sunday editor to meeting over sexist Angela Rayner report
