The Conservative MP accused of watching porn in the House of Commons previously responded to the allegation in a confident TV interview days before it emerged he was the politician in question.
Today Neil Parish, 65, was named as the Tory MP accused by two female colleagues of watching porn in the Commons, and he was suspended by the Tory whip this afternoon.
An earlier GB News TV interview with Mr Parish has now resurfaced, in which he is asked about the story and responds with confidence about what he thinks should happen.
Mr Parish, who has been an MP for 12 years, also denied at the time that Parliament had a sexism culture. He said it was a “very intense area” and “you are going to get people who step over the line”.
When Mr Parish was asked if “whoever it is, they would surely have to have the whip removed”, he told GB News: “I think the Whips’ Office will do a thorough investigation and we will wait and see that result.
“I think from that, then the decision will have to be made what action will be taken.”
Asked if there was a problem in Parliament’s culture, Mr Parish replied it was a “very intense area” and “you are going to get people who step over the line”.
He added: “I don’t think there’s necessarily a huge culture thing but I do think it has to be dealt with and dealt with seriously, and I think that’s what the whips will do in our Whips’ Office."
A spokesperson for the Chief Whip told the Mirror: “Having spoken to the Chief Whip this afternoon, Neil Parish MP is reporting himself to the Standards Committee of the House of Commons.
“Mr Parish has been suspended from the Conservative Whip pending the outcome of that investigation.”
It's thought Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards Kathryn Stone - who reports to the Standards Committee which makes final rulings - could investigate if he caused "significant damage to the reputation and integrity" of the Commons.
Separately, the Tory MP for Tiverton and Honiton since 2010 is also being investigated by Parliament’s Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme.
It’s understood the nature of the allegations is that Mr Parish is the MP accused of watching porn in the Commons.
In a statement, Mr Parish said: "Following recent allegations regarding an MP’s use of their mobile phone in Parliament, I have referred myself to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards in the House of Commons.
"I will be cooperating fully with any investigation, and whilst it is ongoing I will continue to perform my duties as MP for Tiverton and Honiton.
"I will not be making further comments at this stage."
It came after mounting pressure on Boris Johnson to act over the MP, after the Mirror and other outlets revealed two female Tories had accused an anonymous male colleague of watching porn on his phone in the Commons.
