A UK MP under investigation for allegedly watching pornography in the House of Commons has claimed he may have opened it on his phone by mistake.
An inquiry is already launched after Neil Parish referred himself for investigation. He refused to resign as an MP or as Head of the Environment Select Committee until the inquiry concludes. Two female colleagues complained after claiming to have seen him looking at the adult content while sitting near them.
As it stands, Mr. Parish is under suspension from the Conservative Parliamentary Party, pending the outcome of the investigation by Parliament’s Standards Commissioner, Kathryn Stone. If she finds that he violated the code of conduct for MPs, the possible punishments range from having to apologise to the Commons to suspension or expulsion.
Mr. Parish, while responding to questions from reporters after being questioned, intimated that he would co-operate fully with the inquiry and would await the outcome before commenting.
“Of course, it’s embarrassing. 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.”
Neil Parish
When asked if it was a mistake, he responded saying: “I will await the findings of the inquiry”. Pressed on whether he opened something on his phone in error, Mr. Parish said: “I did, but let the inquiry look at that”. He also added that he would resign if “found guilty” by the inquiry, saying he understood the upset he might have caused and “I apologise for that”.
However, in a statement on his website, he said he would continue working as an MP and Committee Chair, despite calls from female colleagues for him to resign, or at least, to stop attending Parliament while under investigation.
Earlier on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, report emerged that a female Minister reported a male colleague for viewing pornographic material while sitting beside her in the Commons chamber. The female Minister said she also saw the MP watching pornography during a hearing of a Select Committee. Another female Tory MP disclosed that she tried but was unable to capture video proof of him doing so.
The allegations were subsequently revealed to be made about Mr. Parish, who said he referred himself to Ms. Stone for investigation. Mr. Parish, who serves as the MP for Tiverton and Honiton in Devon, also Chairs the Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee. However, the ongoing investigation does not prevent him from continuing in either role.
Response from Mr. Parish’s Wife
In an interview with Mr. Parish’s wife, Sue Parish, she said the allegation was “very embarrassing” and described her husband as “quite a normal guy” and “a lovely person”. Sue Parish also said she did not see the attraction of pornography nor understood why the women who made the allegation were upset.
Conservative Party Chief Whip, Chris Heaton-Harris, has asked for the matter to be referred to Parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme. Labour’s Shadow Commons Leader, Thangam Debbonaire, accused the government of having known about the “disgusting behaviour” for days and having attempted to “cover it up”.
Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, Daisy Cooper, called on Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, to “tell Neil Parish to resign immediately”. Also, Environment Committee Member, Kirsty Blackman, of the Scottish National Party (SNP), has requested Mr. Parish to resign as Chair of the Committee.
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