A Lancashire MP who has been suspended after a lobbying 'sting' received five gifts from companies linked to the gambling industry including tickets to watch two England football games, the Brits and Wimbledon it has been revealed.
Blackpool South MP Scott Benton has had the whip suspended by the Conservative Party after he referred himself to parliament's standards watchdog. It came after an undercover sting by The Times, who posed as gambling industry investors looking for parliamentary influence.
In a meeting with the undercover reporters, it is alleged Mr Benton - who is also the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Betting and Gaming - was prepared to leak market-sensitive information to the investment fund and ask parliamentary questions on its behalf, in direct breach of parliamentary lobbying rules.
