Billericay MP Teresa Gorman faces suspension from parliament for a month after the release of a damning report into her business affairs today.

The report, by parliamentary watchdog, the standards and privileges committee, has laid down the most severe punishment seen in this parliament on the Tory MP.

The latest investigation was sparked off by accusations last autumn that she had mislead the standards commissioner, Elizabeth Filkin, when interviewed about her affairs last summer.

The committee's latest report said the MP should have registered an interest in three bedsit properties in south London and two in Portugal.

It also found she had made improper and inappropriate attempts to contact witnesses during the course of the investigation. Mrs Filkin said this had the potential to undermine inquiries.

Mrs Gorman also attempted to introduce a 10-minute-bill in the Commons which concerned rented accommodation. This was considered inappropriate by the committee.

Mrs Gorman said one of the houses was used by her business and another for her own residential purposes, although employees occasionally used them rent-free. Later, after two former tenants agreed to give evidence to the inquiry, she said some "informal" payments had made.

Mrs Gorman also claimed that a flat in the Algarve was not rented out, but later placed an entry in the Register of Members' interests saying it was occasionally let.

Mrs Gorman, who is to retire at the next general election, has vowed to fight the decision.

But she said: "I think that justice is not being done. This committee is not about justice it is about politics.

"The committee has total power and there is no court of appeal."

Rapped - Teresa Gorman MP

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