Scott Benton: Lobbying scandal MP recall petition opens

Former Conservative MP Scott Benton is now sitting as an independent

A recall petition has opened to decide whether Scott Benton, the MP for Blackpool South should lose his seat.

The ex-Conservative MP was suspended from the Commons for 35 days for offering to lobby ministers over gambling.

Registered voters can sign the petition in one of eight venues until 17:00 BST on 22 April.

Blackpool Council, said 5,629 signatures are needed to trigger a by-election.

The designated signing places are: The Salvation Army, Raikes Parade, Blackpool Sports Centre, Revoe Library, Molyneux Community Centre, The Solaris Centre, Bostonway Community Centre, Tarnside Community Centre and Aysgarth Community Centre.

They are open Mondays, Wednesday, Thursdays and Fridays from 09.00 to 17:00, and Tuesdays from 08:00 to 17:00.

New applications to sign the petition by post must be received by 5 April and new applications to sign the petition by proxy must be received by 12 April.

Mr Benton was the subject of a Times newspaper investigation

Mr Benton, who now sits as an independent, broke Commons rules when he was filmed by the Times offering to act on behalf of gambling investors.

The undercover reporters also recorded Mr Benton offering to table parliamentary questions.

He was elected as a Conservative in 2019 with a 3,690 majority.

A Blackpool South contest would be the fourth by-election this year, while a defeat would be the 11th time the government had lost a seat since the start of the current Parliament in 2019.

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