* A previous version of this article reported as fact that Scott Benton was to be suspended for more than 10 days. The article has been amended to make clear that it had been claimed that Benton is 'set to be suspended', but to also make clear that no suspension has been announced at this stage and the outcome has not yet been confirmed. We are happy to clarify this.
Rishi Sunak faces another nightmare by-election in a Red Wall seat as an MP is set to be ousted over a lobbying scandal.
The Standards Committee is poised to recommend that Scott Benton be suspended for more than 10 days, which will trigger a process that will give his constituents the chance to remove him.
The MP for Blackpool South had the Tory whip suspended in April after he was filmed offering to lobby ministers and leak confidential information on behalf of gambling industry investors. He suggested to undercover reporters that MPs were able to get around transparency rules on corporate hospitality by putting a falsely low value on tickets to avoid having to declare them.
The outcome has not yet been confirm, but the Mirror understands the Standards Committee will announce Mr Benton’s fate within the next few weeks. The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has been looking into allegations that his actions caused “significant damage to the reputation of the House” of Commons. It launched the probe after the Tory referred himself for investigation.
The Code of Conduct for MPs states that “members shall never undertake any action which would cause significant damage to the reputation and integrity of the House of Commons as a whole or of its members generally”.
Blackpool South was held by Labour from 1997 to 2019 when Mr Benton snatched the seat for the Conservatives. He won by just 3,690 votes. Mr Sunak already faces difficult by-elections in Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire. Labour is also hoping to take Rutherglen and Hamilton West, which was held by the SNP at the last election, in a by-election being held on Thursday.
In a statement issued in April following the publication of The Times’ investigation, Mr Benton said: "Last month I was approached by a purported company offering me an expert advisory role. I met with two individuals claiming to represent the company to find out what this role entailed. After this meeting, I was asked to forward my CV and some other personal details. I did not do so as I was concerned that what was being asked of me was not within Parliamentary rules.
"I contacted the Commons Registrar and the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner who clarified these rules for me and had no further contact with the company. I did this before being made aware that the company did not exist and the individuals claiming to represent it were journalists."