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Tory MP Patrick Mercer resigns Tory MP Patrick Mercer resigns
(34 minutes later)
MP Patrick Mercer has resigned the Conservative Party whip. MP Patrick Mercer has resigned the Tory whip to "save my party embarrassment" over a BBC Panorama programme alleging he had broken lobbying rules.
Mr Mercer is a former shadow defence minister who has represented Newark since 2001. The Newark MP and former shadow minister said he will not be standing at the next general election.
The former Army officer was sacked from the Conservative frontbench by David Cameron in 2007 after allegedly racist comments. Mr Mercer, who has referred himself to the Parliamentary standards commissioner, said he was "taking legal advice" about the allegations.
The BBC understands his decision to quit is in connection with a lobbying story being pursued by Panorama, scheduled to go out on Thursday. The allegations are contained in a future edition of Panorama.
In a statement, Mr Mercer said: "Panorama are planning to broadcast a programme alleging that I have broken Parliamentary rules.
"I am taking legal advice about these allegations - and I have referred myself to the Parliamentary commissioner for standards. In the meantime, to save my party embarrassment, I have resigned the Conservative Whip and have so informed Sir George Young.
"I have also decided not to stand at the next general election."
'Done right thing'
A Conservative spokesman said: 'The prime minister is aware. He thinks Patrick Mercer has done the right thing in referring himself to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and resigning the whip.'
"It's important that the due processes take their course."
Reacting to the news, Conservative MP Richard Ottaway told the BBC: "I'm very sorry to hear this.
"Patrick Mercer has been a good servant of the party for decades. The fact that he's going, I'm really disappointed over. I have yet to hear the reasons, but it's a sad day."
Race row
A former Army officer and shadow homeland security minister, Mr Mercer was sacked from the Tory frontbench by David Cameron in 2007 after making allegedly racist comments.
It followed an interview in The Times, in which he said: "I came across a lot of ethnic minority soldiers who were idle and useless, but who used racism as cover for their misdemeanours."
During the furore which followed he denied being racist but accepted his comments might have "hurt" soldiers who served with him and "embarrassed" his party.
Later that year he was made an adviser on security matters to Labour minister Lord West.