Telford MP Lucy Allan will not face standards probe as new row erupts

She will not face a Parliamentary inquiry into claims she faked a death threat in an email from a constituent.

But the controversy surrounding the Telford MP refuses to die down amid new claims about her behaviour made by a former staff member. Today Ms Allan was not answering calls and her Twitter and Facebook pages have been disabled.

A complaint was made to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards over Ms Allan's conduct with regard to the emails.

Commissioner Kathryn Hudson has now examined the complaint and her spokesman said: "I can confirm an investigation will not be started."

The complaint surrounded claims Ms Allan added the words "unless you die" to a Facebook post in order to exaggerate evidence of abuse she had received online.

The MP said accusations she faked the threat were a "disgusting slur" and that she had simply mixed up two messages.

She has since been involved in a furious online row with critics.

Yesterday the controversy took another turn as former staff member Arianne Plumbly, an Oakengates town councillor who lives in Telford, released the text of voicemail messages the MP had left on her phone.

In the messages Ms Allan appears to accuse Ms Plumbly, who was off sick at the time, of taking a computer from the office without permission, questions her illness and suggests she has an "alcohol problem".

She tells her: "I have to say your conduct is very odd indeed. Just not turning up day after day, without even speaking to me.

"You've been nauseous day after day. I don't know if this is some sort of alcohol problem or whatever it is, but it's not a very good excuse because actually it was a cough. A cough that went nauseous."

Ms Plumbly, 26, who managed constituency case work for the MP after the election, says she notified Ms Allan of sick days via text, which was an agreed method. She strongly denies any allegation of theft and says she does not drink.

She claims she attempted to complain to Tory Central Office but wasn't listened to.

Ms Allan has failed to respond to calls from the Shropshire Star despite repeated messages left on her mobile and offices.

In a written statement, she said: "Arianne Plumbly was dismissed from her employment after four months for gross misconduct following misuse of the Parliamentary email system, persistent unauthorised absenteeism, refusal to follow a reasonable instruction and rudeness to residents."

Conservative Central Office also defended its actions over the complaint made by Ms Plumbly, saying they were dealt with "appropriately and sympathetically".