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Spectator (UK)MAR 2024
UK: Tory MP Suspended Over Alleged Misuse of Campaign Funds
Image copyright: Chris McAndrew via Wikimedia Commons
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Having been caught up in a string of controversies since becoming an MP in 2010, further scandals concerning Mark Menzies should, in reality, come as no surprise. From allegations of paying for a teenage escort, getting a dog drunk, and instances of disorderly behavior, it's clear that Menzies is unfit to hold office as an MP in Westminster.
Establishment-critical narrative
Despite taking a turn for the worse during Johnson's premiership, parliamentary ethics have steadily declined for decades. This problem can't be tackled by suspending lawmakers — a systematic overhaul is overdue and entirely necessary if the UK is to root out the malpractice that has undermined Westminster's ability to serve its people properly for far too long.