Benton was suspended as a Tory MP earlier this year after he was filmed offering to lobby ministers for a fake company in a newspaper sting.
Rishi Sunak is facing a fresh by-election headache, with a former Tory MP facing a 35-day suspension from the Commons.
Blackpool South MP Scott Benton faces being suspended after the Commons standards watchdog found he committed a “very serious breach” of lobbying rules.
Benton was suspended as a Tory MP earlier this year after he was filmed offering to lobby ministers for a fake company in a newspaper sting.
Parliament’s standards committee said he had repeatedly indicated “his willingness to disregard the House’s rules”.
It said a “serious sanction” was needed, recommending he be suspended from Parliament for 35 days.
If Parliament backs the punishment, the length of the suspension could trigger a by-election in Mr Benton’s Red Wall constituency.
More to follow
Basit Mahmood is editor of Left Foot Forward
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