Rishi Sunak braced for another by-election after ex-Tory MP Scott Benton suspended from Commons
Former Tory MP Scott Benton has been suspended from the Commons for 35 days over his role in a lobbying sting – creating another headache for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
MPs approved the suspension of Mr Benton on Tuesday evening without the need for a vote – known as going through on the nod.
And he will now face a recall petition in his constituency of Blackpool South, which could lead to him being booted out of his seat and a by-election being called.
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Labour Party chair, Anneliese Dodds, called for Mr Benton to resign immediately to “save his constituents the upheaval and cost of a recall petition”, adding: “Scott Benton’s lobbying brought himself, the Conservatives and parliament into disrepute.
“This is indicative of a weak Conservative prime minister who promised professionalism, integrity and accountability and has delivered nothing but sleaze, scandal and chaos.”
Mr Benton had the Tory whip removed last April after suggesting to undercover reporters at The Times that he would be willing to break lobbying rules for money.
A subsequent investigation by parliament’s Standards Committee found he had committed a “very serious breach” of the rules and recommended a 35-day suspension from the Commons.
The backbench MP – who has sat as an independent since being kicked out of the Conservative Party – denied wrongdoing and appealed the suspension to the Independent Expert Panel (IEP), the body that sits above the Standards Committee.
But in a ruling earlier this month, the IEP said it “found no substance” in his arguments and dismissed the appeal.
The length of the suspension means Mr Benton is now facing a recall petition, and if 10% of his constituents sign it, a by-election will be triggered in his seat.
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It would take the number of by-elections held during Mr Sunak’s time as prime minister to 11.
Earlier this month, Labour managed to overturn five-figure majorities to win both the Kingswood and Wellingborough by-elections from the Tories.
Sky News has approached Mr Benton for comment.
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A total of 36,816 migrants crossed the English Channel to the UK in 2024, provisional government figures show.
The figure is up 25% on 2023 when 29,437 people arrived in small boats.
The number successfully making the journey in 2024 is the second-highest since records began in 2018. The total, however, is down 20% on the record 45,774 arrivals in 2022.
The number of people who died while making the hazardous journey across the busiest shipping lane in the world was not published in the Home Office data, though 2024 was considered the deadliest for Channel crossings.
According to the French coastguard 53 people died across the 12 months.
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The number of people who have made the crossing has jumped significantly in recent years.
In 2018, when the figures were first collated, there were 299 people who arrived, in 2019 there were 1,843 which more than quadrupled to 8,466 in 2020 before tripling to 28,526 individuals in 2021.
Those fleeing countries such as Ukraine and Afghanistan have safe and legal routes to the UK open to them.
Refugees recognised by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and close family members of refugees can apply to legally settle in the UK, as can people escaping Hong Kong.
Others can arrive via alternative routes, but these are sometimes illegal and can rely on criminal gangs and people smugglers.
The last crossings of the year took place on 29 December, when 291 people made the journey from France in six boats.
Weather is a large determinant of whether people risk the voyage. Stormy weather means fewer take a chance, while calmer conditions see more boats launching.
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A Home Office spokesperson said: “The people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die, as long as they pay. We will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice.”
The National Crime Agency said it has around 70 live investigations into organised immigration crime or human trafficking.
Both biggest UK political parties have vowed to bring down the number of people crossing the Channel with Labour saying they’ll “smash the gangs”.
Former prime minister Rishi Sunak made stopping small boat crossings one of the five key pledges of his premiership.
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