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| Tory MP Mark Menzies resigns as ministerial aide following allegations by Brazilian rent boy | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A Conservative MP has resigned as a ministerial aide following allegations made by a Brazilian rent boy. | A Conservative MP has resigned as a ministerial aide following allegations made by a Brazilian rent boy. |
| Mark Menzies, 42, the MP for Fylde in Lancashire, resigned his position as the parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to the international development minister Alan Duncan, the first openly gay Conservative MP. | Mark Menzies, 42, the MP for Fylde in Lancashire, resigned his position as the parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to the international development minister Alan Duncan, the first openly gay Conservative MP. |
| Mr Menzies has never spoken publicly about his sexuality and does not mention his family life or relationships on his website, but he is said to have attended LGBTory events held in Parliament. | Mr Menzies has never spoken publicly about his sexuality and does not mention his family life or relationships on his website, but he is said to have attended LGBTory events held in Parliament. |
| In a statement issued on Saturday night he revealed he planned to dispute the claims, which appeared in a tabloid newspaper. | In a statement issued on Saturday night he revealed he planned to dispute the claims, which appeared in a tabloid newspaper. |
| He said: “I have decided to resign as a PPS after a series of allegations were made against me in a Sunday newspaper. | He said: “I have decided to resign as a PPS after a series of allegations were made against me in a Sunday newspaper. |
| “A number of these allegations are not true and I look forward to setting the record straight in due course.” | “A number of these allegations are not true and I look forward to setting the record straight in due course.” |
| Fylde Conservative Association chairman Councillor Brenda Ackers said: "Mark has the full support of his constituency party." | Fylde Conservative Association chairman Councillor Brenda Ackers said: "Mark has the full support of his constituency party." |