Cash-shame MP Patrick Mercer quits and opens a by-election chance for Farage #CarryGobySeanKellz #FutureGroupNG via @myentertain9jar

SHAMED MP Patrick Mercer triggered a dramatic byelection last night by quitting the Commons over a cash-for-questions scandal.

Patrick Mercer offered a humble apology[PA]

It could see Ukip leader Nigel Farage stand in a bid to win a first Parliamentary seat for the anti-Brussels party.

Former Tory Mr Mercer, 58, had been sitting as an independent MP for Newark, Nottinghamshire, since losing his party's whip.

He resigned after it emerged that a Westminster watchdog was poised to suspend him from Parliament for six months.

The former Army officer confessed to being "ashamed" of his conduct.
He was alleged to have tabled Commons questions after receiving £4,000 from a lobbying firm seeking the re-admission of Fiji to the Commonwealth.

He said: "It is clear Newark needs to be represented properly. I can only humbly apologise.

"As an ex-soldier, I believe that when you have got something wrong, you have to 'fess up' and get on with it."
A by-election in the previously safe Tory seat will not be welcome news for David Cameron.

Mr Farage was last night said to be seriously considering standing.

Ukip look on course for a surge in support at next month's European elections and a party source said: "We are watching the situation.

As an ex-soldier, I believe that when you have got something wrong, you have to 'fess up' and get on with it

Patrick Mercer

"A by-election after the European elections would be a big deal if Ukip gives the Tories a bloody nose.
"We would want to run a serious and impressive candidate."

A poll by Saga/Populus showed that a third of UK voters over 50 will vote Ukip in the European elections.

Some Tories were last night speculating that London Mayor Boris Johnson - who is thought to be looking for a safe Tory seat to re-enter the Commons - could throw his hat into the ring for the Newark by-election.
However the party has already picked a candidate, Robert Jenrick, which may rule the option out.

Meanwhile Mr Farage yesterday warned that bids to smear Ukip were "a disastrous mistake" that would backfire on the political establishment.

It followed the launch of a cross-party campaign branding Ukip racist.

He said: "All three Westminster parties are levelling the charge of bigotry.
"But the electorate is not in the mood to be intimidated.
"I call on all fair-minded British people to teach these creeps a lesson."

Ukip council candidate William Henwood quit last night after saying comedian Lenny Henry "should emigrate to a black country".
Mr Henry had criticised a lack of ethnic people on TV.