Scott Benton (politician)

Scott Benton
Official portrait, 2019
Member of Parliament
for Blackpool South
In office
12 December 2019 – 25 March 2024
Preceded byGordon Marsden
Succeeded byChris Webb
Personal details
Born
Scott Lloyd Benton

(1987-07-01) 1 July 1987 (age 37)
Newport, Wales
Political partyConservative
Spouse
Harry Symonds
(m. 2021)
Alma materUniversity of Nottingham

Scott Lloyd Benton (born 1 July 1987) is a former British politician who was Member of Parliament (MP) for Blackpool South from the 2019 general election until his resignation in March 2024.[1] A member of the Conservative Party, he was previously also a councillor on Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council and a primary school teacher.

In April 2023 Benton had the whip removed after he had offered to reporters, posing as investors, that he would lobby ministers in return for payments. A parliamentary investigation concluded that he had breached lobbying rules and recommended a 35-day suspension from the House of Commons, triggering a recall petition. Benton's subsequent resignation as an MP prompted a by-election on 2 May 2024.[2]

  1. ^ "Scott Benton resigns as MP, paving way for Blackpool by-election". Yahoo News. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Scott Benton: Ex-Tory MP resigns leaving PM to face new by-election". BBC News. 25 March 2024.