Tory MP accused of viewing porn in Commons is likely to resign today

Neil Parish could resign today as he is under investigation for allegedly viewing pornography in the Commons Chamber.

Two Conservative Party sources said the MP is likely to resign over the allegations, which are being investigated by Parliament.

The Tiverton & Honiton MP was yesterday identified as a mystery politician who was allegedly spotted watching adult content from two female colleagues.

He is expected to cave in to pressure to resign, although he argues he opened the material to adults “accidentally”.

The select committee leader had initially vowed to continue his duties as MP after being suspended over claims by the parliamentary Conservative Party.

He also vowed to remain Chair of the Commons Committee on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

But Sky News suggested Mr Parish had been told by his allies that his position had become untenable.

They are said to have raised concerns about how he maintained his silence as rumors surfaced about who was to blame since two Tory MPs aired the allegations on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, two days before his appointment, he spoke to GB News about the then-unknown MP who was spotted watching porn in the chamber.

He said: “I mean, I think the whip office will do a thorough investigation and we’ll wait for the result and I think on that basis then they have to decide what action needs to be taken.”

When asked if he thought there was an issue with culture in Parliament, he said: “I think if you have 650 MPs in a very intense area, I think you’re going to get people to cross the border exceed.

“I mean, it is, I don’t think there’s necessarily a huge culture here, but I think it needs to be taken seriously and taken seriously. And I think you know the whips in our whip office will do that.’

When asked by reporters at his Somerset farmhouse today if he had mistakenly opened something in the House of Commons, he said: “I have, but let the Inquiry take care of it.”

However, there was evidence that a Tory minister also observed him watching porn a second time in a committee meeting.

In an interview later on Friday night in his dressing gown, Mr Parish told the Telegraph that “it’s almost like a weight being lifted off me” the allegation is now “open”.

His wife Sue Parish says her breath was taken away after her husband was named in connection with the allegation.

She added that pornography was “degrading and demeaning” to women, but said she wouldn’t let the allegations get between them.

“I’m pretty tough, you gotta keep going, don’t you?” She said. When asked if her husband could salvage his career, she said: “I don’t think it’s going to continue, is it?

“It’s so stupid. He’s such a good MP. He’s such a good person.’

Mr Parish referred himself to Parliament’s Standards Commissioner, Kathryn Stone, for an inquiry but said on Friday he would only resign if she found him guilty.

Senior Tory Karen Bradley had urged him to stay away from Parliament and Harriet Harman, the longest-serving female MP, called for his immediate resignation.

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