THE LIB Dems used the cover of the Scottish independence referendum to announce disgraced MP Mike Hancock has resigned his party membership.

A party spokesman broke the news during Thursday night’s results rush.

He said: “We have received a letter confirming his resignation. Obviously, there was due to be a disciplinary hearing imminently, so before that has happened he has resigned.”

The Portsmouth MP made the break after being forced publicly to apologise to a vulnerable woman constituent for making improper sexual advances.

In June Mr Hancock gave an “unreserved” apology at London’s High Court over an ‘‘inappropriate and unprofessional friendship’’ with a single mother known only as Annie, who had sought his assistance.

Solicitors for the woman said the apology was part of a ‘‘confidential settlement’’ in which the ‘‘vulnerable woman,’’ who suffers from mental health problems, brought a claim for damages against him.

Mr Hancock, who failed to hold his seat as a councillor in this year’s local elections, also faces calls to stand down from his seat in Parliament.

Portsmouth City Council leader Donna Jones said it is “very sad” Mr Hancock’s 40-year parliamentary career “has ended the way it has.”

But the Tory added: “It was only a matter of time that his past has caught up with him in the form of this alleged sexual assault by a woman he came in contact with through Portsmouth City Council and it is a very sad indictment of his parliamentary career and now it’s time for him to stand down.”

paddym@peoples-press.com