Rishi Sunak faces fresh byelection as former Tory MP suspended

Rishi Sunak is braced for another byelection after former Tory MP Scott Benton was suspended from the Commons for 35 days over his role in a lobbying sting.

MPs approved the suspension of the Blackpool South MP on Tuesday evening without the need for a vote.

He had the Tory whip removed in April 2023 after suggesting to undercover reporters at the Times that he would be willing to break lobbying rules for money.

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.

A subsequent investigation by parliament’s standards committee found he had committed a “very serious breach” of the rules and recommended a 35-day suspension from the Commons.

He will now face a recall petition in his constituency, which could lead to a byelection if 10% of constituents sign it.

Benton denied wrongdoing and appealed against the suspension to the independent expert panel (IEP), the body that sits above the standards committee. Last week, the former Conservative MP lost his appeal against the suspension.