By MP claims pornographic viewing in commons was ‘by mistake’
An 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 has been launched after Neil Parish referred himself for investigation.
He has refused to resign as an MP or as head of the environment select committee until the conclusion of the inquiry.
According to two female colleagues, the MP was seen looking at adult content whilst sitting near them.
The two female colleagues complained after claiming to have seen him looking at adult content, all while sitting near them.
Mr Parish has been suspended from the Conservative parliamentary party, pending the outcome of the investigation by Parliament’s standards commissioner Kathryn Stone.
The possible punishments range from apologising to the Commons to suspension or expulsion- if he is found to be guilty by Kathryn Stone.
The BBC reported on Friday, Mr Parish said he would co-operate fully with the inquiry and would await the outcome before making comment.
“Of course it’s embarrassing,” he said. “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.”
Asked if it was a mistake, he said: “I will await the findings of the inquiry.”
In reference to whether it was in error, Mr Parish said: “I did, but let the inquiry look at that.”
Mr Parish also said he would resign if “found guilty” by the inquiry.
In a statement on his website, he said he would continue working as an MP and committee chair.
There have been calls from female colleagues for him resign or stop attending Parliament while under investigation.
On Wednesday, it emerged that a female minister had reported a male colleague for viewing pornographic material while sitting beside her in the Commons chamber.
The female minister said she had also seen the MP watching pornography during a hearing of a select committee, The Times reported.
The allegations were subsequently revealed to have been made about Mr Parish, who said he had referred himself for investigation.
The Times reported, Mr Parish’s wife, Sue Parish, said the allegation was “very embarrassing” and described her husband as “quite a normal guy” and “a lovely person”.
“It shouldn’t have taken days for him to be referred to the process,” Bridget Phillipson, Labour’s shadow education secretary, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“It was clear no action had been taken and that for some days Conservative whips knew exactly who he was.”
The delay by the whips to suspend Mr Parish from the Tory party was also criticised by Caroline Nokes, Conservative MP and chair of the women and equalities committee.
