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Rishi Sunak is braced for another nightmare by-election, as the Parliamentary Committee on Standards has recommended Tory MP Scott Benton be suspended for 35 days.
MPs in parliament will now vote on the recommended suspension. If passed, Sunak is likely to be facing yet another by-election.
A suspension of more than 10 days triggers a recall petition in an MPs constituency, which can lead to a by-election if signed by 10 per cent of the eligible electorate.
Benton had the whip suspended after an investigation from the Times that found him allegedly offering to lobby on behalf of the gambling industry.
Rishi Sunak is braced for another nightmare by-election, as the Parliamentary Committee on Standards has recommended Tory MP Scott Benton be suspended for 35 days
PA
He was filmed offering to lobby ministers and leak confidential information to gambling industry bosses.
Benton was offered a fee of £2,000-£4,000 for two days’ work.
The recording saw him boast of his “direct” access to ministers.
Benton referred himself to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner after the investigation was published.
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”.
In its ruling handed down this morning, the Committee said “by repeatedly indicating his willingness to disregard the House’s rules, and by giving the impression that many Members of the House had in the past and will in the future engage in such misconduct, Mr Benton committed a very serious breach”.
The MP has a majority of just 3,600 in Blackpool South.
In a statement following the investigation’s publication, 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.”
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