Tory MP’s lobbying sting could mean a tasty red wall by-election

Populist Scott Benton finds himself unpopular with fellow MPs, as Sean O’Grady explains

Conservative MP Scott Benton (PA)

Scott Benton, the Conservative MP for Blackpool South, has been caught offering lobbying services and to leak market-sensitive information in return for a fee. He was uncovered by a newspaper sting involving a fictitious company. His colleagues have condemned him and he has had the party whip removed. He has referred himself to the independent parliamentary commissioner for standards.

Was Benton venal or just foolish?

Daniel Greenberg, the parliamentary commissioner for standards, will be the initial judge of that. Benton’s behaviour, caught on video, seems to have been a straightforward breach of the parliamentary code of conduct.