Conservative MP has whip suspended following bogus gambling firm sting operation

Tory MP Scott Benton has had the whip suspended after he was caught on camera offering to take money from a supposed gambling firm in exchange for lobbying in parliament.

His actions only came to light after he had referred himself to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.

Benton, the MP for Blackpool South, was caught by undercover journalists from The Times newspaper, detailing how he would lobby for the fake firm.

The journalists set up a bogus company and emailed eight MPs to request a meeting. Benton was the only MP willing to meet with the company, with all other MPs ignoring the email recognising it would breach parliamentary rules.

Benton offered to table parliamentary questions, leak a confidential policy document and lobby ministers on behalf of the hoax gambling industry investors, who were offering to pay him thousands of pounds a month for his efforts.

During a meeting with the undercover journalists last month, Benton also outlined how he would use his position to help their business and try and water down proposed gambling reforms.

This was a reference to the forthcoming white paper into the Gambling Act 2005 review, which Benton said he would leak a copy to the company at least 48 hours before it was published, allowing the firm time to benefit from the early information.

Benton also boasted to the journalists that he would “literally sit outside” a minister’s office to get their company’s questions answered. He also said he would call in favours from colleagues to help support the company’s interests and offered to host a dinner at the House of Commons for them to attend.

All Benton’s promises and bravado fly right against the rule that MPs are banned from acting as paid lobbyists and accepting money to raise issues in parliament on behalf of investors.

Also, following the Owen Paterson lobbying scandal in October, MPs are also barred from serving as parliamentary advisors or consultants or providing advice on how to influence parliament.

This violation comes as the government is expected to publish the white paper after its Easter recess.

When Benton was asked by the journalists what was in the white paper, Benton replied that the industry had been successful at getting “the vast majority of what we wanted”, but there were still elements up in the air following the appointment of the new culture secretary Lucy Frazer in mid-February.

MPs from other political parties within parliament have voiced their concerns over Benton’s actions and have called into question Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s grip on his own party.

Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper remarked: “These shocking revelations are yet another damning indictment of the state of the Conservative Party.”

A Labour spokesperson added: “Yet again, we see Rishi Sunak’s weakness. Instead of acting right away, he waited until Scott Benton referred himself to the Commissioner.

“Rishi Sunak’s lack of mandate means he’s too nervous to act against his own troops. No wonder Tory MPs think they can get away with blue murder.”

Since his actions have come to light, Benton has released a statement to the BBC.

The statement 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.”

Benton is currently awaiting a parliamentary investigation into his actions, with Labour and Liberal Dem MPs urging PM Sunak to suspend Benton from the Conservative Party.