Tory MP caught in faux gambling sting faces second investigation
Scott Benton now in the crosshairs over bringing “significant damage to the reputation” of parliament
The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has opened a second investigation into Scott Benton MP after he was caught in a faux gambling investor sting.
Benton, who is the Conservative MP for Blackpool South, had the whip suspended earlier this month after footage emerged of him offering to lobby in parliament on behalf of a fake gambling firm.
In the sting, set up by The Times, Benton met with journalists posing as industry figures. Benton said he would table parliamentary questions, leak policy documents and lobby on behalf of the supposed investors.
Benton later referred himself to the Commissioner following the sting meeting as he was “concerned” that what was being asked of him was not within the parliamentary rules.
The Commissioner opened its first investigation into Benton on 11 April for the “use of facilities [parliamentary email address] provided from the public purse”.
The parliamentary watchdog has now opened a second investigation into the Blackpool South MP, which began on 20 April.
The new investigation relates to “actions causing significant damage to the reputation of the House [of Commons] as a whole, or of its members generally.”
The probes into Benton represent two of eight investigations currently being undertaken by the watchdog, including one into Prime Minster Rishi Sunak over a failure to declare a business interest.