Ex-Tory MP Scott Benton faces 35-day Commons ban after being caught in sting offering to lobby for gambling firm in exchange for money - potentially handing Rishi Sunak yet another by-election headache

A former Tory MP is facing a 35-day ban from the Commons after being caught offering to act as a paid lobbying for a gambling firm.

Blackpool South's Scott Benson acted as if he was 'for sale' in a undercover sting by the Times.

A probe by the Commons Standards Committee recommended he serve a ban of seven working weeks, enough to trigger a recall petition in his margin seat.

Mr Benton was suspended by the Tories after the expose earlier this year and sits as an independent. But the penalty - subject to ratification by MPs - raises the prospect of another difficult by-election for Rishi Sunak in the new year.

He won a majority of 3,690 in 2019, in a seat that had voted Labour since 1997. A by-election would show just how hard it will be for the party to hold on to Red Wal seats the next time round.

In their report the Standards Commission said Mr Benton, who married partner Harry Symonds two years ago, was guilty of 'an extremely serious' breach of lobbying rules.

'The message he gave to his interlocutors at the March 7 meeting was that he was corrupt and ''for sale'', and that so were many other Members of the House,' they wrote.

'He communicated a toxic message about standards in Parliament. We condemn Mr Benton for his comments which unjustifiably tarnish the reputation of all MPs.' 

Mr Benton met reporters in March who posed as executives from Tahr Partners, a fictitious Indian gambling conglomerate wanting to become a bigger player in Britain.

They made an offer of two days work per month for up to £48,000 a year and a seat on the board of one of its firms to the MP, who chaired the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Betting and Gaming.

The reporters recorded the meeting in which he offered 'direct access to a government minister', to lobby ministers while waiting to cast votes in the Commons with them and also 'call in favours' with other MPs who might be able to help.

When questioned by the Standards Commissioner, Mr Benton said he had not agreed to do anything that broke lobbying rules and had already decided not to work with the firm.