Tory MP Scott Benton Faces Suspension Amid Lobbying Scandal

Undated handout photo of Scott Benton MP. UK Parliament via PA Media

Conservative MP Scott Benton faces suspension from parliament for 35 days over a “serious breach” of rules of conduct, a cross-party committee has found.

The decision by the Committee on Standards, which reviews complaints in relation to breaches of the parliamentary Code of Conduct, was published on Thursday.

It follows an investigation of Mr. Benton, who has been found to give the image that he was corrupt and “for sale.”

Mr. Benton has been representing the Blackpool South constituency since Dec. 2019. He had the Tory whip withdrawn earlier this year and sits as an independent.

In the course of the investigation, the committee found that Mr. Benton met undercover reporters from The Times at a London hotel in March.

The reporters posed as gambling industry investors and offered the MP a position with a fictitious company in return for lobbying other lawmakers and tabling parliamentary questions.

The committee revealed that in his exchange with the reporters, Mr. Benton said that he could “absolutely” call in favours with his colleagues.

“I can host a dinner for us at the House of Commons for example […] where we can go through some of those particular issues as well. So I’ve got quite a few favours we can pull in from colleagues who would be more than happy to support you as well,” he was reported to say.

Mr. Benton insisted “no parliamentary rules were broken” during his meeting with a fictitious company. He told the lawmakers that he did not agree to “undertake activity that would be in breach of the rules” and that he didn’t insinuate that his colleagues would be inclined to do so.

However, the committee found that he “communicated a toxic message about standards in Parliament” and his comments “unjustifiably tarnish the reputation of all MPs.”

“We condemn Mr. Benton for his comments which unjustifiably tarnish the reputation of all MPs,” the report said.

By-Election Trigger

The cross-party group, chaired by Labour MP Harriet Harman, concluded that “a serious sanction is appropriate.” In addition to a 35-day suspension, Mr. Benton faces losing his salary for the duration of the suspension.

The length of the suspension is above the ten-day threshold to trigger a recall petition, which will be opened in due course. If at least 10 percent of voters sign the petition, a by-election will take place in Blackpool South.

Mr. Benton’s suspension follows that of another Tory MP, Peter Bone, in October.

The Wellingborough MP was suspended for six weeks from the House of Commons over bullying and sexual misconduct relating to a staff member. The recall petition, which was prompted by his suspension, will be open until Dec. 19.

If Wellingborough and Blackpool South constituents decide to hold by-elections, the Conservative Party risks losing two seats before the general election, due by January 2025.

The odds of holding the seats may not be favourable for the Conservatives, who only managed to hold one seat in seven by-elections, that took place this year.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak inherited the House of Commons majority in the last election, when the Conservatives won 365 seats. The number now stands at 352.

Mr. Benton’s suspension is the latest blow to the Tory grip on power in Westminster. The shadow leader of the House of Commons, Lucy Powell, said Mr. Benton’s was “not an isolated case.”

“It comes off the back of a wave of Tory sleaze and scandal,” Ms. Powell said.

She called for Blackpool South to grasp the “opportunity to elect its first ever Blackpool born MP, they can be proud of.”

The latest voting intention poll by IPSOS showed that about 41 percent of Britons would vote Labour in the next general election. This compares to 24 percent of voters backing the Conservative Party.