A minister has angrily criticised fellow Tory MP Scott Benton who was secretly filmed appearing to offer to lobby ministers on behalf of gambling investors in exchange for money.
Transport minister Richard Holden described his colleague’s conduct as “unacceptable” and said he was pleased the allegations were now being investigated.
Mr Benton, MP for the ‘red wall’ seat of Blackpool South, was suspended from the Conservative party on Wednesday night pending the probe into the claims.
Responding to the claims on Thursday, Mr Holden said: “This behaviour is totally unacceptable and I am glad that it is now going to be thoroughly investigated, all the claims made, and will be properly looked into.”
Mr Benton was stripped of the party whip after an undercover investigation by The Times newspaper showed film of him saying he could leak a confidential policy paper to a bogus investment fund and ask parliamentary questions on its behalf, in breach of parliamentary rules.
Footage showed him offering to “guarantee” to provide a copy of an upcoming gambling White Paper to the business at least two days before publication.
He also said he could table parliamentary written questions and that he had previously done so on behalf of another organisation.
Asked whether an MP’s actions could get any worse than offering to leak confidential documents, Mr Holden replied: “No.”
When pressed that Mr Benton was a Conservative MP, the minister added: “He’s not any more.”
🔺 EXCLUSIVE
— The Times and The Sunday Times (@thetimes) April 5, 2023
Exposed: How Tory MP offered to lobby for gambling investors
👉 https://t.co/uk7jBh6BZO pic.twitter.com/jIIrj7YYnN
A spokesman for Tory chief whip Simon Hart said that following his self-referral to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Mr Benton “has had the Conservative Party Whip suspended whilst an investigation is ongoing”.
Rishi Sunak, who entered office last year promising “integrity” within the party, had come under pressure to withdraw the whip.
Labour said the Prime Minister’s failure to act before Mr Benton referred himself to the Commissioner showed his “weakness”.
The party’s shadow Commons leader Thangam Debbonaire said Mr Sunak “must get a grip of this new wave of Tory sleaze and take immediate action to stop this shameful cash for questions scandal spiralling even further”.
Mr Benton’s actions might breach Parliament’s lobbying rules.
Under those rules, MPs are forbidden from advocating a particular matter in the House or raising it with ministers in return for payment.
They are also prohibited from serving as a paid parliamentary adviser or consultant or guiding firms on ways to influence Parliament.
During a meeting in early March, Mr Benton described how he could support the fund, which he believed was set up by an Indian businessman looking to make investments in the UK betting sector, by attempting to water down proposed gambling reforms.
It comes as the Government is carrying out a major review of gambling laws, mulling stricter regulations that could impact operators’ profits.
Mr Benton said he could offer “the direct ear of a minister who is actually going to make these decisions” and speak to them outside the Commons voting lobby.
The MP appeared to agree with a fee proposed by the reporters in the range of £2,000 to £4,000 a month for two days’ work.
Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: “These shocking revelations are yet another damning indictment of the state of the Conservative Party. The British public are sick of Conservative sleaze.”
It comes after former cabinet ministers Matt Hancock and Kwasi Kwarteng drew criticism for offering to advise a bogus South Korean company for up to £10,000 a day in a sting by the campaign group Led By Donkeys last month, although there was no accusation of wrongdoing.
In a statement, Mr Benton said: “Last month I was approached by a purported company offering me an expert advisory role. I met with two individuals claiming to represent the company to find out what this role entailed. After this meeting, I was asked to forward my CV and some other personal details. I did not do so as I was concerned that what was being asked of me was not within Parliamentary rules.
“I contacted the Commons Registrar and the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner who clarified these rules for me and had no further contact with the company. I did this before being made aware that the company did not exist and the individuals claiming to represent it were journalists.”
Downing Street said it was first and foremost a matter for the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Daniel Greenberg, and whipping matters were for the Whips Office.
