A Tory activist who reported an MP over claims he misused party funds has told Sky News she is disappointed by the way her complaint has been handled.

Mark Menzies voluntarily quit the Conservative parliamentary party this week after a report in The Times claimed he called his ex-campaign manager Katie Fieldhouse, 78, early one day to say he was locked in a flat by “bad people” and needed £5,000 as a matter of “life and death”.

The sum, which rose to £6,500, was eventually paid by his office manager from her personal bank account and subsequently reimbursed from funds raised from donors in an account named Fylde Westminster Group, the newspaper said.

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But despite the incident taking place in December – and Ms Fieldhouse submitting her complaint in January – the Fylde MP had remained part of the parliamentary party and as a trade envoy for the government until the press reports surfaced.

He has now lost the Conservative whip and was suspended as one of Rishi Sunak’s envoys.

Mr Menzies strongly disputes the claims, which also include accusations he used campaign funds to pay his personal medical bills.

Speaking to Sky News’ Frazer Maude, Ms Fieldhouse said: “I am feeling dreadful because I am a devout Tory and as I have said to everybody else, I reported his actions to the chief whip… it is now the middle of April.

“Come to your own conclusions [about] what is happening.”

Asked if she was disappointed with the way the complaint was being handled, she said: “Yes.”

And asked if Mr Menzies should step down, she added: “It is for his conscience and the party to deal with. I have put my faith in the party, it is for them to deal with it.”

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Mr Sunak was also asked by reporters on Friday whether his former colleague should quit the Commons, and why it had taken until now for the party to act, but he said he would not comment while an investigation was being carried out.

Instead, the prime minister said: “It’s right that Mark Menzies has resigned the Conservative whip. He’s been suspended from his position as a trade envoy whilst the investigations into those allegations continue.

“For our part, I can’t comment on an ongoing investigation while it’s happening and he’s no longer a Conservative MP.”

Meanwhile, the Labour Party has written to Lancashire Police to demand an investigation into allegations of fraud and misconduct in public office.

Leader Sir Keir Starmer told broadcasters that the Conservatives “seem to have sat on their hands” over the allegations.

He added: “If they thought they could sweep this under the carpet somehow they were obviously very mistaken and that is why I think there are very serious questions now that need to be answered – not just by the individual but also by the government on this.”

And the Liberal Democrats have called for the ministerial ethics adviser to investigate chief whip Simon Hart’s handling of the complaint.

Rishi Sunak is facing a fresh headache after a Conservative MP was suspended over allegations he misused campaign funds.

The Times newspaper report into Mark Menzies is the latest sleaze row to rock the Tories since the prime minister entered Downing Street with a promise to bring “integrity and accountability” to government.

Having sought to draw a line under the scandal-hit era of Boris Johnson, problems have continued to mount for Mr Sunak.

Sky News looks at the MPs who have been suspended during his time in office so far.

Mark Menzies

Fylde MP Mr Menzies lost the Conservative whip and was suspended as one of Rishi Sunak’s trade envoys after The Times published claims that he had used political donations to cover medical expenses and pay off “bad people” who had locked him in a flat and demanded thousands of pounds for his release.

Mr Menzies, who will now sit as an independent MP, disputes the allegations but “agreed to relinquish the Conservative whip, pending the outcome of an investigation”, Chief Whip Simon Hart said.

Mr Sunak is facing questions over how the claims were handled, with reports suggesting that the party had been aware of the allegations for more than three months.

Sky News understands there had been an ongoing investigation by Conservative Campaign Headquarters into Mr Menzies, but further information came to light following the newspaper’s report and Mr Hart acted immediately.

William Wragg

William Wragg, the MP for Hazel Grove in Greater Manchester, also gave up the whip after he admitted to The Times he had given his colleagues’ phone numbers to someone he met on a dating app.

The senior backbencher apologised and said the person “had compromising things on me. They wouldn’t leave me alone”.

Scotland Yard later said it is investigating reports of the so-called “honeytrap” scam after it was suggested at least 12 men in political circles received unsolicited messages, raising security concerns.

Mr Wragg’s decision to voluntarily give up the whip led to criticism from within Conservative ranks, with a senior Tory source telling Sky News: “Rishi is so weak Wragg decided he’d have to fire himself instead.”

Lee Anderson

Former deputy party chairman Lee Anderson had the whip suspended over “Islamophobic” comments he made about Sadiq Khan.

The MP for Ashfield, who has since defected to the Reform party, said he believed “Islamists” had “got control” of the Mayor of London, saying: “He’s actually given our capital city away to his mates.”

A day later Mr Khan accused the prime minister of being “complicit” in racism for failing to condemn Mr Anderson‘s comments that “pour fuel on the fire of anti-Muslim hatred”.

Mr Anderson was ultimately suspended, with the chief whip Mr Hart saying this was due to his “failure to apologise”.

Mr Anderson said at the time that he “fully” accepts the party had to suspend him – adding that he “will continue to support the government’s efforts to call out extremism in all its forms – be that antisemitism or Islamophobia”.

Scott Benton

Scott Benton was suspended last April after suggesting to undercover reporters at The Times that he would be willing to break lobbying rules for money.

A subsequent parliamentary investigation found he had committed a “very serious breach” of the rules and recommended he be suspended from the Commons for 35 days, a punishment backed by MPs.

Mr Benton resigned before that could happen, triggering a by-election in his Blackpool South constituency which will coincide with next month’s local elections.

He had denied wrongdoing and appealed the suspension but the ruling was upheld. Had he not resigned, he would have faced being removed from his seat via a re-call petition which would have triggered a by-election if 10% of eligible voters in the area backed it.

Bob Stewart

Bob Stewart, who represents Beckenham in southeast London, surrendered the party whip after he was found guilty of a racially-aggravated public order offence.

The conviction was quashed on appeal in February, but he has not had the whip restored.

Mr Stewart was convicted after telling Bahraini refugee Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei to “go back to Bahrain” during the incident in December 2022.

In overturning the decision, Mr Justice Bennathan said that while the words amounted to abuse, it was not believed that they caused Mr Alwadaei harassment, alarm or distress.

Crispin Blunt

Former minister Crispin Blunt had the whip suspended pending the outcome of the police investigation into allegations of rape and possession of controlled substances, which he denies.

The Reigate MP announced his arrest in October, calling it “unnecessary” but saying he was ready to co-operate and “I am confident will end without charge”.

Mr Blunt has said he does not intend to contest the next election. In January he was re-bailed until April.

Peter Bone

Disgraced ex-Tory MP Peter Bone lost his seat after being removed by constituents in a recall petition. The move came after he was suspended as an MP over bullying and sexual misconduct claims, which he denies.

Mr Bone’s partner was chosen to run as his replacement in the subsequent Wellingborough by-election. Labour managed to achieve a swing of 28.5% – the largest swing of this parliament at the time.

Chris Pincher

Former deputy chief whip Chris Pincher quit parliament in disgrace after losing his appeal against a suspension from the Commons following groping allegations made in June 2022.

The allegations ultimately led to the downfall of Boris Johnson, after it emerged the then prime minister was aware of an investigation into his conduct three years before, yet still appointed him to a role in his government involving MPs’ welfare.

Mr Pincher did not appeal against the rule breach, but argued to the Independent Expert Panel (IEP) that the punishment was disproportionate.

His resignation triggered a by-election in his seat in Tamworth in October, which the Tories lost to Labour.

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David Warburton

David Warburton stood down from his seat in Somerton and Frome last summer while being investigated for claims of sexual misconduct. Mr Warburton, who was suspended over the allegations 14 months earlier, denied making unwanted advances but did admit to drug use.

In his resignation letter he said he had been denied a fair hearing by the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS) and prevented from “speaking out” while it investigated the accusations.

An independent panel later found the investigation into claims he sexually harassed someone was “materially flawed“, but said it had made “no findings on the substance of the complaint against the respondent, or the allegation that the complaint was fabricated”.

Julian Knight

Juian Knight was suspended as a Conservative after a serious sexual assault allegation was made against him.

The MP for Solihull has always maintained his innocence and in April last year, the Metropolitan Police dropped the investigation without questioning him.

But he remained suspended from the Tory party as the chief whip said “further complaints” had been made against him.

Mr Knight announced he would be standing down at the next election as a result.

Andrew Bridgen

Mr Bridgen was kicked out of the Conservative Party last year after comparing COVID vaccines to the Holocaust.

The North West Leicestershire MP claimed a “consultant cardiologist” told him COVID jabs were “causing serious harms”, adding that the vaccine programme was “the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust”.

He stood by his comments following his expulsion, saying he would use his “newfound freedom” as an independent MP “to fight for justice for all those harmed, injured and bereaved due to governmental incompetence”.

Matt Hancock

Matt Hancock resigned as health secretary in disgrace during the pandemic when he was caught having an affair with his aide and now girlfriend, Gina Coladangelo, in breach of his own social distancing rules.

But it was his appearance on reality TV show I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! that caused him to lose the whip.

Mr Hancock was heavily criticised by MPs, including Mr Sunak, who said MPs should spend their time “serving constituents”.

Nicola Sturgeon has described her personal situation as “incredibly difficult” after her husband was charged in connection with the embezzlement of SNP funds.

Peter Murrell, who was chief executive of the party until March 2023, was rearrested on Thursday amid a long-running Police Scotland investigation into the SNP’s finances, dubbed Operation Branchform.

The 59-year-old remained in police custody until he was charged just after 6.30pm last night.

He was later released from custody, with a report set to be sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in due course.

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Speaking to reporters outside her home in Glasgow for the first time since the charge, Ms Sturgeon – the former first minister of Scotland and ex-SNP leader – said there was “absolutely nothing I can say given the circumstances”.

But asked by Sky News’ Connor Gillies how difficult it was for her personally, she replied: “It is incredibly difficult, but that’s not the main issue here. So I can’t say anymore, I’m not going to say anymore.”

Humza Yousaf, Ms Sturgeon’s successor as leader of the SNP, said: “These are serious, serious developments. And as per the police statement, we now know that an individual has been charged, Peter has been charged, [with] the allegation of embezzlement from party funds, and that’s a really serious matter indeed.

“Many people in the SNP, right across Scottish politics, will be shocked by the news and this is an ongoing investigation.

“Police, the Crown have a job to do, just as I have a job to do as first minister.”

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Ms Sturgeon, who stood down as first minister last year, has been married to Mr Murrell since 2010.

An SNP spokesperson said: “While this development will come as a shock, the police investigation remains ongoing and it would, therefore, be inappropriate to make any comment.”