Tories may face Blackpool byelection as Scott Benton loses suspension appeal
Rishi Sunak may face another difficult byelection after an MP lost his appeal against a 35-day suspension from parliament for offering to lobby ministers on behalf of the gambling industry.
Scott Benton, the MP for Blackpool South, formerly a Conservative, had asked for a reconsideration of the standards committee verdict that he had committed an “extremely serious breach of the rules”.
Benton had offered to lobby ministers on behalf of the gambling industry and leak a confidential policy document for up to £4,000 a month, which the committee found merited a suspension of 35 days, subject to a parliamentary vote.
Undercover reporters for the Times posing as representatives of a fake investment fund had approached the MP, who told them he could “call in favours” from colleagues and get “easy access” to ministers when queueing for parliamentary votes.