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Neil Parish

Tory MP who resigned after watching porn in House of Commons won't rule out running in by-election

Neil Parish is considering using his support in the farming community to stand as an independent candidate.

DISGRACED POLITICIAN NEIL Parish has not ruled out running against his old colleagues in the Tory party in the by-election triggered by his resignation for watching pornography in Parliament.

Parish, who is a farmer by trade, was forced out after admitting watching X-rated videos, first saying he accidentally viewed one when browsing for tractors, before later doing so deliberately in the Commons chamber.

In an interview with the Telegraph as he left Westminster, the 65-year-old said he could rely on his support in the farming community by running as an independent in the upcoming vote in Tiverton and Honiton.

“It is an option for me and one I could consider, the only thing that may well stop me is the fact that my local party, my local activists, my local councillors, all which are friends, I don’t know if I want to do that to them,” Parish told the Chopper’s Politics podcast.

“Some of the hierarchy of my own party I suppose I wouldn’t have the same problem in doing it. At the moment I’m taking soundings. I can raise the money, yeah, yeah.

“I don’t think I would have any problem in doing all that. I’ve got some quite powerful backers in the farming community.

“I don’t think I’m going there – but it is an option.”

‘Lick his wounds’

Parish acknowledged he had swelled the Conservatives’ majority in the Devonshire seat since he was elected in 2010, but said his immediate concerns lay elsewhere.

He said: “Neil Parish wants to go home and lick his wounds and also give time to let the shock of what I’ve done pass.

“I’ll breed some more cattle, probably Herefords or Devons, my wife and I are talking about we’re great dog lovers so we might breed a few puppies.”

Parish, whose downfall was brought about by two women MPs reporting having seen him watching porn in the Commons, sought to defend his record amid allegations of misogyny in Westminster.

“One ridiculous point from me to get myself into this situation is if you ask people, you’ll find no friendlier and nicer MP,” the former chair of the the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs Select Committee said.

“I never accosted women, I never suggested anything – I might have jokes with them, but that’s all.”

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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas Hannigan
    Favourite Thomas Hannigan
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    Apr 7th 2015, 10:41 AM

    Hailo raised it percentage take and lost taxi drivers.

    38
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jonathan Smith
    Favourite Jonathan Smith
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    Apr 7th 2015, 1:54 PM

    When was that?just curious

    1
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    Mute Debbie Meleady
    Favourite Debbie Meleady
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    Apr 7th 2015, 10:42 PM

    Hailo charge 12% commisssion, that’s it. No €79.00 or €99.00 a week with Citycabs/Global/Lynk.

    4
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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Debbie Meleady
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    Apr 7th 2015, 10:46 PM

    Still has over half the Dublin fleet at 7,000+

    5
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    Mute Shane Freeney
    Favourite Shane Freeney
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    Apr 7th 2015, 11:19 AM

    Hailo will lose more drivers if they keep uping the aunty with price and rules silly rules !

    20
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    Mute Debbie Meleady
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    Apr 7th 2015, 10:48 PM

    You can’t up an “Aunty”, well maybe you can. Upping the ante is another thing. lol

    3
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    Mute Shane Freeney
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    Apr 7th 2015, 12:04 PM

    They do take credit card but yes you do have to sign up first

    8
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    Mute Liam Morgan
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    Apr 7th 2015, 11:42 AM

    They lost me when they stooped the use of their credit card facilities for non bailout jobs/customers it was extremely handy

    6
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    Mute Shane Freeney
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    Apr 7th 2015, 12:05 PM

    What is a non bailout job or customer

    19
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    Mute windbag
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    Apr 7th 2015, 1:07 PM

    I think he misspelled it ……..its meant to read non hailo jobs as in you used to be able to take credit card jobs of the street now the customer has to download the app if they want to pay by card…….stupid idea from hailo…

    11
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    Mute Dave Hammond
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    Apr 7th 2015, 8:23 PM

    Hailo have added the option to pre book now so that’s not a unique feature for lynk

    6
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    Mute windbag
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    Apr 7th 2015, 8:37 PM

    Hailo had to add that feature because it was the next step …….and to keep up with other apps that have that feature before them ….e.g…cab:app

    2
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    Mute Debbie Meleady
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    Apr 7th 2015, 10:59 PM

    My husband left a cab company recently. The company sold the controlling share to the guy named above. They thought that they could sell the drivers rent as part of the business package, (Approx’ €5K per year),forgetting that the drivers hire the cab company to supply them with work, and they work for the driver. Not wanting any association withthe new owners, he fired them.

    He wondered why, as he calls it “the Weakest Lynk”, chose the exact same colour branding as Hailo? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery I suppose.

    5
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    Mute Seaghán Corcoran
    Favourite Seaghán Corcoran
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    Apr 7th 2015, 12:39 PM

    Lynk taxis. €25 free sign up. €5 per journey if you pay by card but wait there’s a €3 booking fee before you sit in the taxi. It is removed after you use your “free” €25. So, free €10 sign up.

    5
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    Mute Shane Freeney
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    Apr 7th 2015, 2:02 PM

    They can’t charge €3 for booking ! €2 is max Hailo don’t charge for booking

    6
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    Mute Seaghán Corcoran
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    Apr 8th 2015, 8:57 AM

    They do. I got a taxi that usually costs less than €5 and cost me over €8. Minus the “five” free. When you contact them they say that is taken off when your €25 is up.

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    Mute James Cleary
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    Apr 7th 2015, 2:09 PM

    I always use the lynk app ( Irish owned company)

    5
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    Mute Shane Freeney
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    Apr 7th 2015, 2:44 PM

    To be fair Hailo was set up by 3 guys one Irish

    9
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    Mute James Cullen
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    Apr 7th 2015, 6:39 PM

    it was set up back 3 London black cab drivers

    4
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