Tory MP Neil Parish resigns as he admits to watching porn in Commons twice in 'moment of madness'

Neil Parish has made an undignified exit from politics as ITV News Political Correspondent Libby Wiener reports

Tory Neil Parish has announced he will resign as an MP after admitting to watching pornography twice in the House of Commons chamber in what he described as a "moment of madness".

The 65-year-old had initially vowed to continue as MP for Tiverton and Honiton but on Saturday decided to step down after seeing the “furore and the damage I was causing my family and my constituency”.

Mr Parish told BBC South West that he watched adult material twice in the Commons, admitting "I was not proud of what I was doing".

Looking visibly emotional, the farmer said the first time was accidental while looking at tractors on the internet.

He said he then "got into another website with a very similar name," adding: “I watched it for a bit, which I shouldn’t have done.”

Libby Wiener reports that the pressure to resign came from within his own party

“My crime, my most biggest crime, is that on another occasion I went in a second time, and that was deliberate," he continued.

“That was sitting waiting to vote on the side of the chamber.”

He said it was a “moment of madness”, which he accepted was “totally wrong”, as he insisted he was “not making sure people could see it” and was trying to be discreet.

“I was wrong what I was doing, but this idea that I was there watching it, intimidating women, I mean I have 12 years in Parliament and probably got one of the best reputations ever – or did have," Mr Parish added.

When pressed on why he chose to view the material in the Commons, he said: “I don’t know, I think I must’ve taken complete leave of my senses and my sensibilities and my sense of decency, everything.”

A spokesperson for Tiverton and Honiton Conservatives said: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank Neil Parish for his service to our communities over the past 12 years.

“We support his decision to step down as our Member of Parliament.”

The allegations that an MP had watched porn in the Commons first surfaced in a meeting with Chief Whip Chris Heaton-Harris on Tuesday.Mr Parish did not come forward as the culprit, even when asked about the claims in a televised interview, until when the revelations were about to be made public on Friday.

The Conservatives then suspended the whip from him, meaning he was out of the parliamentary party.

He referred himself to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Kathryn Stone, and said he would continue with his “duties” in the Commons pending the outcome of an investigation.

It was unclear whether that will still go ahead after he resigns.

But the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme (ICGS), which looks into claims of bullying and sexual harassment, can investigate former MPs.

It was understood the body had begun examining events after at least one witness made a referral.

A local Conservative source said the pressure to resign was coming from Westminster, rather than the constituency association.

Senior Tory Karen Bradley had urged Mr Parish to stay away from Parliament, while Harriet Harman, the longest-standing female MP, called for his immediate resignation.

But he insisted to reporters at his Somerset farmhouse on Friday that he would be carrying on while under investigation, suggesting that he had watched the porn accidentally.

However, it was hard to tally that explanation with suggestions that a Tory minister also witnessed him watching porn on a second occasion, in a committee meeting.

On Saturday morning, safeguarding minister Rachel Maclean said of his decision not to immediately stand down: “I genuinely think that’s a matter for him.”

Speaking to ITV News, she said: "I can't comprehend what was going through his head, I find it astonishing...I've never seen anything like it, it's completely unacceptable, it is disgusting, it's not right in any workplace in any professional environment, let alone the House of Commons."

Senior Conservative Caroline Nokes, who chairs the Women and Equalities Committee, accused the Tory whips of “dither and delay” over suspending Mr Parish.

Labour’s shadow Commons leader Thangam Debbonaire said Mr Parish was right to resign over his “disgusting behaviour”.

“But it’s shocking that the Conservatives have allowed this debacle to drag out over many days,” she added.

“Time and again the Tories refuse to act, resorting to cover ups and dragging the reputation of other MPs and the House down with them.”

Liberal Democrat activists relished the opportunity of a by-election, noting their success in taking rural seats off the Conservatives.

Daisy Cooper, the party’s deputy leader, demanded the Tories call the vote “swiftly”.