Mercer committed worst breach of lobbying rules according to watchdog

Disgraced former MP Patrick Mercer's cash for questions scandal was the worst breach of parliamentary rules on lobbying dealt with by a sleaze watchdog, it has said.

The ex-Tory minister quit his Newark seat in disgrace on Tuesday ahead of the publication of a report today that would have banned him from the House of Commons for six months.

Details of the investigation into allegations that he had tabled Commons questions and offered a Westminster security pass after signing a deal that paid him £4,000 have now been published and show Mr Mercer "deliberately evaded" rules and "inflicted significant reputational damage" on Parliament.

The suspension the Standards Committee had planned to impose on the former Army colonel would have been the longest it had meted out to an MP since 1947, with the exception former Labour MP Denis MacShane, who was convicted of criminal offences.

Its report states: "We are not aware of a case relating to a sitting MP which has involved such a sustained and pervasive breach of the House's rules on registration, declaration and paid advocacy."

The by-election sparked by his decision to quit the Nottinghamshire seat will be held on June 5.

Read: UKIP Leader Nigel Farage says he will not contest Newark seat