Patrick Mercer resigns from Tory party over 'major lobbying scandal' Newark MP says he wants to 'save my party embarrassment' Allegedly caught breaking rules by reporters posing as lobbyists who asked him to carry out work on behalf of Fiji He has asked two parliamentary questions and tabled a Commons motion on the island in the South Pacific but allegedly did not declare interest David Cameron 'aware' of allegations and backed resignation Row likely to reopen calls for a register of lobbyists Tory MP Patrick Mercer today dramatically quit the party amid reports he has been caught up in a 'major lobbying scandal'. The Newark MP said he wanted to 'save my party embarrassment' over allegations he asked parliamentary questions on Fiji in exchange for money without declaring interests. David Cameron is 'aware' of the allegations against Mr Mercer and backed his decision to resign the Conservative whip and stand down at the next election. Newark MP Patrick Mercer today quit the Tory party, after 12 years on the Conservative benches in the Commons The former army officer has been an outspoken critic of David Cameron, but his resignation is not thought to be connected to growing dissatisfaction with the Prime Minister on the Tory backbenches. It is believed the 57-year-old was targetted by reporters posing as a lobbying firm who allegedly paid him to lobby on behalf of Fiji. Today it emerged he had tabled two parliamentary questions and a Commons motion in relation to the South Pacific Island. Mr Mercer said he was seeking legal advice on the allegations put to him by the Daily Telegraph and BBC's Panorama programme. To save my party embarrassment, I have resigned the Conservative Whip. I have also decided not to stand at the next General Election Patrick Mercer MP The Daily Telegraph said it has been 'investigating the former shadow minister over a major lobbying scandal'. It planned to publish a 'series of revelations' about Mr Mercer tomorrow. BBC Panorama said it had been investigating both MPs and peers, raising the prospect of more politicians being caught up in the scandal. Its programme is still being made and will be broadcast 'as soon as possible'. 'The investigation has raised a number of issues related to those involved,' the BBC said. Panorama has sought responses from a number of people including Mr Mercer. Prime Minister David Cameron has been made 'aware' of he allegations while on holiday in Ibiza with wife Samantha In a statement Mr Mercer said: 'Panorama are planning to broadcast a programme alleging that I have broken Parliamentary rules. I am taking legal advice about these allegations - and I have referred myself to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. Patrick Mercer spent 25 years as an army officer with the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters, serving in Northern Ireland, Uganda, Bosnia and Canada. As the youngest colonel since the Second World War he left the army in 1999 and soon after joined BBC Radio 4's Today programme as their defence reporter. He was elected as Tory MP for Newark in 2001, and served on the frontbench under Iain Duncan Smith, Michael Howard and David Cameron. But he was sacked by Mr Cameron in 2007 for an interview in which he suggested that being called a 'black bastard' was a normal part of army life. He also claimed to have met a lot of 'idle and useless' soldiers from ethnic minorities. Since then, Mr Mercer has been an outspoken critic of the Tory leader. In 2011 he was reported to have called Mr Cameron 'an arse' and 'a despicable creature without any real redeeming features'. A recording obtained by The People newspaper suggested he also said of the PM: 'I've never, ever come across anyone less suited to the job in my life. I would take a beggar off the streets and put him in that position rather than have Cameron. I loathe him. However, Mr Mercer denied the veracity of the account and accused the newspaper of subterfuge. In the meantime, to save my Party embarrassment, I have resigned the Conservative Whip and have so informed Sir George Young. I have also decided not to stand at the next General Election. The Tory party said Mr Cameron was 'aware' of the allegations and 'thinks Patrick Mercer has done the right thing in referring himself to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards and resigning the whip' A party spokesman added: 'It's important that the due processes take their course.' This month Mr Mercer has asked two parliamentary questions in relation to Fiji. They covered UK investment in public transport in the country, its human rights record and its suspension from the Commonwealth. In March Mr Mercer has also tabled a Commons motion which 'recognises that the government of Fiji is making all reasonable efforts to restore democracy'. It added that 'in the light of ongoing hardship being endured by its businesses, there is no justification for Fiji's continued suspension from the Commonwealth'. The motion urged the Government 'to arrange a ministerial visit in order to help prepare for and assist its readmission'. It was also signed by Labour MPs Alan Meale, Jim Dobbin and David Crausby and Lib Dem Mike Hancock. It is unclear if the questions and motion are directly connected to the investigation. The revelations are certain to reopen calls for a register of lobbyists. Before the last election, Mr Cameron lobbying was 'the next big scandal waiting to happen'. The Tory leader added: 'It's an issue that crosses party lines and has tainted our politics for too long, an issue that exposes the far-too-cosy relationship between politics, government, business and money.' When the coalition was formed in 2010, it promised to 'regulate lobbying through introducing a statutory register of lobbyists and ensuring greater transparency'. However the plans have been quietly shelved. Just last week Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg appeared to blame Tory opposition for the register being dropped. The Lib Dem leader said: 'There is nothing wrong with lobbying, there's nothing wrong with the idea that people want to make their views known to decision-makers about what they think is the right or wrong decision to take I just think it needs to be done not in the shadows but in the bright light of transparency. That's the point of a register. 'It's not something that we could get agreement on across the coalition at the moment. I very much hope that at some point we will. Today Peter Facey, director of campaign group Unlock Democracy who has taken part in the Panorama programme, said: 'Having failed to take action over the last three years, it is long past time David Cameron took a lead on this issue. The government must now legislate for a robust register of lobbying activity and crack down on both the links between all party groups and commercial interests and the ability for MPs and peers to work as paid consultants. Tory activists in Mr Mercer's Newark constituency expressed shock at the allegations. Councillor Peter Duncan said: 'I always thought of him as a very solid citizen. If this news is true then I am shocked. I thought he was a very strong individual with a strong point of view. He will be missed. Councillor Derek Evans added: 'I'm very surprised at the news. I've a lot of trust and faith in Patrick. I have utter faith in him as an MP.