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A Conservative MP is facing calls for his dismissal after he was caught in a sting operation trying to leak secret government policies to gambling companies.
Scott Benton, Member of Parliament for Blackpool South recorded by Times He said lobbyists would pay £2,000 to £3,000 a month so they could submit questions to ministers on their behalf.
He immediately called for clarification on parliamentary lobbying rules and insisted he did not seek to pursue part-time job offers.
But the Liberal Democrats have asked Rishi Sunak to take the whip off Mr Benton. The party’s deputy leader, Daisy Cooper, said: “These shocking revelations are yet another damning indictment of the state of the Conservative Party.
“Rishi Sunak must immediately strip the Conservative whip from Benton. Anything less would be a mockery of his claim to restore integrity.”
Labour’s Angela Rayner added: This prime minister has failed to deliver on the integrity he promised. Only Labor can clean up politics.”
The government whip will wait for the results of a review by the congressional commissioner on standards before deciding on next steps. I understand.
Downing Street said it was first and foremost a problem with Congressional Standards Commissioner Daniel Greenberg, and that the problem of whiplash was a problem with the Whips Office. The Whips office directed an inquiry to Mr. Greenberg.
Times An investigation found that reporters had contacted a number of MPs posing as representatives of India-based companies looking to invest in the UK’s gambling industry. Benton was the only person who agreed to the meeting, arguing that he should be hired rather than a PR firm because he has direct access to government ministers.
he said: Literally at the beginning of the voting lobby entrance. If you wait there for five minutes, the pastor will have to pass you. And he has 10 minutes to listen to him at the next poll. ”
Benton also said lawmakers could “put parliamentary questions on the table.” When asked if the company can provide advance copies of upcoming gambling white papers, he said:
Members of Parliament are prohibited from lobbying ministers to pay clients or receive money to ask questions in parliament.
Mr Benton was accused of being the head of the company “because he was concerned that what was being asked of him was outside the congressional rule” after his meeting was said to be part of a sting operation. He added: “I have reached out to the Registrar of Commons and the Congressional Standards Committee to clarify these rules, but the company I had no further contact with him.”
Two years ago, Mr Benton, who heads an all-party parliamentary group on betting and gambling, had to apologize for failing to properly register his financial interests. He recently said he was considering leaving his current constituency and holding elections in new seats due to the impact of changes to parliamentary boundaries.