Gary Streeter, the Conservative MP for South West Devon has been unsuccessful in his bid to become one of the deputy speakers for the House of Commons.
Mr Streeter, who had cross-party local support in Plymouth, was one of seven candidates for the position vacated after the resignation of Nigel Evans, but MPs elected Eleanor Laing, the Conservative MP for Epping Forest.
The Conservative MP for Newark in Nottinghamshire, Patrick Mercer, has resigned the party whip and announced he will stand down at the next general election, due in 2015.
In a statement, Mr Mercer cited a BBC Panorama investigation into the alleged breaking of parliamentary lobbying regulations as the reason for his decision.
"Panorama are planning to broadcast a programme...
