Scott Benton faces Commons suspension over lobbying, to give Tories potential byelection headache – UK politics live
"MP Scott Benton Suspended 35 Days For Lobbying Offer To Reporters"
The committee for Commons standards has recently released a document about Scott Benton, a member of the Conservative Party (who has now been suspended from the group and is currently sitting as an independent). The investigation was initiated after Benton was caught on camera by undercover journalists, stating that he would be willing to advocate for the interests of the gambling industry.
According to the committee, Benton has violated parliamentary regulations and is recommended to serve a 35-day suspension. This decision would give permission to activists to initiate a recall byelection in his elective district, Blackpool South. In the previous election, Benton secured a small victory by a mere 3,690 votes over the Labour Party.
The charity appeal by Guardian and Observer this year is making efforts to collect funds for three charitable organizations rendering their support to refugees and asylum seekers. According to the report by Patrick Butler, we have already acquired over £350,000 through donations.
The option to contribute funds to the request is available at this location.
Alternatively, you can opt to delay your inquiry until Saturday and give us a ring on our telethon helpline. Our esteemed Guardian reporters will be on standby to receive your calls, and I'll personally be present from 10 in the morning till noon. Feel free to dial in and ask for me if you'd like to have a friendly conversation. The phone number will be prominently displayed all over our website and newspaper on Saturday morning.
Ex-Tory Cop26 Chief Urges UK To Rethink Yearly North Sea Oil And Gas Permits
Alok Sharma, who used to hold positions as a cabinet minister for the Conservative Party and Cop26 president, has urged the government to reconsider their decision to make laws that guarantee new North Sea oil and gas licenses are given out annually.
During the king's speech, it was announced that there was a proposal for an offshore petroleum licensing bill. This announcement caused speculation that Rishi Sunak was intending to catch out the Labour party, who have stated their opposition to the release of any new North Sea licences after the election.
As he addressed the members of the Commons with regards to the Cop28 summit for this year, Sharma made his statement.
All the past agreements are merely written statements that can only become a reality if all nations uphold their domestic policies. This means that every country needs to take action and hold themselves accountable to make those agreements a reality.
The minister discussed the importance of setting an example, but I would like to request that he take another look at the proposal for yearly oil and gas licenses. Is it in line with our pledged agreements on a global scale?
Additionally, may I request that he inquire with the Chancellor to promptly reassess the taxation system that offers noteworthy financial support to upcoming ventures involving oil and gas.
The issue at hand concerns trust. He addresses the views of those who are most susceptible to the effects of climate change. They are lending an ear, observing, and expecting not only the UK government but every government to act.
Following this, Graham Stuart, who holds the position of energy minister, issued a reply.
The reason we are obtaining new licenses is to handle the decrease of a basin. It is projected to decrease at a rate of 7% annually and is expected to be cut in half within ten years. Even with new licenses, we will still have to rely more on imports. This is why it's necessary for us to take this action.
We're anticipating a collection of around £50 billion in taxes from the oil and gas industry. However, if we don't acquire fresh licenses, we won't have the capability to transform the basin so we can diminish our emissions. This conversion would be vital in guaranteeing that every barrel of oil and gas produced emits fewer amounts of emissions, which correlates directly with our primary objective.
Stuart Hoddinott, a member of the thinktank Institute for Government, has created additional charts that display the latest hospital waiting data for NHS England (refer to 11.16am and 12.32pm). According to Hoddinott, the overall outcomes are positive for the NHS.
To begin with, this is fantastic information. October marks the biggest decrease in a single month since the pandemic first began, by a significant margin.
The list has only experienced one other monthly decrease, which occurred in November of the previous year, resulting in a 27,000 drop. This information was conveyed in the accompanying tweet, along with an image.
in the number of people waiting. There's something important to keep in mind: the list of people waiting by choice changes with the seasons, and at this time of year we should anticipate a decrease.
In October, the waiting list is roughly 140,000 higher than it would have been if the seasonal trends had not been disrupted by the pandemic. This can be seen from the graph shared on Twitter.
Great news! Optional procedures are on the rise. In October 2023, we saw the highest number of completed non-emergency cases ever, with a total of 1.25 million.
November could have been a much more active month if the strikes had not been temporarily halted. Check out the picture posted on Twitter.
In general, the NHS has achieved a positive outcome. Sunak would benefit from experiencing many more months of this kind.
It will become more difficult due to disruptive strikes from junior doctors which are set to take place in December and January. Furthermore, the success of the endeavor will be influenced by the severity of the winter crisis, as a higher demand for urgent and emergency care will result in lower scheduled medical activities.
Welsh Economy Minister Gething Vies For First Minister Role
Vaughan Gething, who serves as the Economy Minister in Wales, has declared that he will be a candidate for the position of the first minister of the country. He is the first Welsh Labour Senedd member to make such an announcement, as he intends to succeed the incumbent Mark Drakeford.
Gething, aged 49, achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first black minister in any of the devolved administrations. He is now running for leader of Welsh Labour.
He showed respect towards Drakeford's exceptional accomplishments, but acknowledged that the Labour party and Welsh government have a massive mission to carry out.
In order for us to continue our success of winning elections and standing up for the people of Wales, we must remain as a cohesive, contemporary, multifaceted movement that embodies the hopes and goals of our country moving forward.
As we approach a forthcoming election, Wales holds a vital chance to witness two Labour administrations collaborating closely to bring tangible transformation to our neighborhoods as well as recover from the negative impacts caused by the harmful policies of the Conservative party in previous years.
William Hill, the famous bookmaker, has picked Gething as the person most likely to succeed Drakeford. The person in second place is Jeremy Miles, who currently holds the position of Minister for Education and Welsh Language.
If either Gething or Miles were to achieve victory, it would be an unprecedented moment in Welsh politics. Gething, as a black politician, would be the first to hold the position of country leader. Miles, as an openly gay politician, would also be a first for the first minister role. A triumphant female candidate would also be a breakthrough as the first female to hold the position of first minister.
The NHS England has released its latest performance figures which include additional statistics. The information has been obtained from the PA Media and is available for review.
At 11.16am, I shared the main number of hospital surgeries that have been scheduled. Currently, there are 7.71 million treatments that are still pending, but it's important to note that this doesn't mean there are 7.71 million individuals on the waiting list. NHS England has started publishing a more accurate calculation, which gives us the number of people who are waiting for treatment, and that figure is at 6.44 million. It's important to keep in mind that some of these patients may be waiting for multiple procedures.
According to PA, around 12,797 patients in England experienced delayed ambulance handovers that lasted over an hour, which accounts for roughly 15% of cases last week. This figure is higher compared to 8,239 patients or 9% two weeks ago. Despite the increase in recent delays, the current percentage is still lower than the recorded 17% during the same time period in 2022.
According to PA, approximately one-third (34%) of ambulance patients who arrived at hospitals in England last week waited for more than half an hour before being transferred to the A&E teams. This number has increased from the previous week, which showed a waiting time of 25% by the end of November 26.
A recent report by PA reveals that A&E departments in England attended to 69.7% of their patients within four hours last month, marking a decline from 70.2% in October. In December 2022, the figure had hit an all-time low of 65.2%. The NHS has set a goal of reaching 76% by March 2024, whereby patients attending A&E are either discharged, transferred or admitted within four hours.
According to news agency PA, the quantity of individuals who waited more than 12 hours in England's A&E departments between the decision to admit and actual admission was 42,854 in November, a minor decrease from the 44,655 reported in October. The record high was 54,573 in December 2022.
The time patients have to wait for hospital treatment can be a long and frustrating experience. Many factors can contribute to the length of wait times, including the seriousness of the medical condition, the availability of hospital resources, and the number of other patients waiting for treatment. It is important for patients to understand the reasons behind hospital wait times and to be patient during the process. Hospitals are doing their best to manage patient needs and provide the necessary care as quickly as possible. Patients can also take steps to help reduce their wait times, such as being prepared with all necessary paperwork and arriving on time for appointments. Communication with healthcare providers can also be helpful in understanding the status of treatment and any potential delays. Overall, hospital treatment waiting times can be frustrating, but it is important for patients to remain patient and work with healthcare providers to receive the necessary care in a timely manner.
According to a report by PA, the number of individuals in England who were waiting for routine hospital treatment for over 52 weeks had reduced from 391,122 to 377,618 by the end of October. The government and NHS England aim to completely eliminate any waiting time that exceeds a year by March 2025.
According to PA, approximately 10,506 individuals residing in England were waiting for a routine hospital treatment for more than 18 months by the end of October compared to 10,201 at the end of September. The government and NHS England had aimed to eliminate the wait time of more than 18 months by April of this year, except for individuals who opt to wait longer or exceptionally complicated cases.
According to PA, about 71.1% of patients who were referred for suspected cancer in October received their diagnosis or had their cancer ruled out within 28 days, which is a slight increase from the previous month's figure of 69.7%. It is worth noting that the goal is to reach 75%.
According to PA, the percentage of patients in England who have to wait more than 62 days from an urgent suspected cancer referral or consultant upgrade to their first definite treatment for cancer decreased slightly from 63.3% in September to 63.1% in October. The target is to have 85% of individuals seen within this time frame.
Cameron To Ban Violent Israeli Settlers On West Bank From Entering UK
David Cameron, the foreign secretary, announced that individuals linked to the violence carried out by Israeli settlers against Palestinians residing on the West Bank will not be permitted to enter the UK.
On X's blog, he wrote:
The violent actions of radical settlers in targeting and murdering innocent Palestinian civilians are causing a significant threat to the safety and steadiness of both the Israeli and Palestinian populations.
Israel needs to adopt more powerful measures to put an end to the violence of the settlers and to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
We are preventing those individuals who are responsible for acts of violence against settlers from entering the UK to guarantee that our nation will not become a sanctuary for such individuals who engage in these threatening behaviors.
Extremist settlers are harming the safety and stability of Israelis and Palestinians by murdering innocent Palestinian civilians.
Israel should consider implementing more forceful measures to prevent any incidents of violence by settlers and ensure that those responsible for such actions are brought to justice.
We are prohibiting the individuals accountable for...
During a group interview with various media outlets this morning, Rishi Sunak reaffirmed the UK's dedication to the concept of a two-state solution. When questioned about statements made by Tzipi Hotovely, the Israeli Ambassador to the UK, declaring Israel's opposition to the idea of a Palestinian state, Sunak emphasized the UK's stance on the matter.
We don't share the same viewpoint. Our enduring stance is that the appropriate resolution in this matter is the establishment of two separate states.
"Sunak Open To Improving Possible Rwanda Bill"
Rishi Sunak has mentioned that he is willing to explore methods to enhance his Rwanda proposal.
The bill is being disputed by both Conservative rightwingers and centrists who have conflicting ideas on how to improve it. Sunak has indicated that the government is willing to be receptive to certain modifications once it goes back to the Commons in the upcoming year.
During a trip to a school located in Finchley, he informed members of the media:
All ministers and I have consistently communicated that we are willing to explore ways to enhance the legislation and make it more efficient. However, any changes must be justifiable from a legal standpoint and ensure that Rwandans continue to be involved in the program. It's only reasonable to be open to such improvements.
When Sunak initially presented his bill, he insinuated that he was unwilling to consider any changes. He stated that if he were to even slightly modify the legislation to make it more stringent, Rwanda would not approve of the plan.
However, conservative politicians with more conservative views claimed that Sunak had promised them that he was open to changes. They hinted that this was significant in convincing them not to oppose the bill during its second reading.
The report by Scott Benton has been strongly criticized by the Labour party. Lucy Powell, who is the opposition leader in the House of Commons, made a statement to this effect.
This blog features an alarming report just released by the standards committee comprising members from different political parties. The report found that Scott Benton blatantly violated parliamentary regulations by misusing his position as a parliament member for personal gain.
This is not a single incident, but it follows a surge of unethical activities and wrongdoing associated with the Conservative Party.
Chris Webb is offering Blackpool South the chance to vote for their first MP who was born and raised in Blackpool. The people of Blackpool South deserve a representative that they can feel proud of, and the prospect of a new beginning.
The Labour party aims to reinstate the ethical principles in the public sector, emphasizing the significance of serving the community within political matters. Additionally, it plans to aggressively tackle favoritism and nepotism, ensuring a fair and just governance.
England's Hospital Waitlist Slightly Decreases But Remains Over 7.7m, Latest Data Reveals
The latest data reveals a small decline in the queue for typical medical care in hospitals throughout England.
PA Media has informed that by the end of October, approximately 7.71 million medical procedures were pending for around 6.44 million patients. This is a reduction from the previously recorded 7.77 million treatments and 6.50 million patients at the end of September, according to NHS England.
The following information comes from Health Service Journal writer, James Illman.
There has been a slight decrease in the NHS waiting list by 0.5%, but it's still sitting at a whopping 7.7 million people. This is around 500k more than what was expected when the PM promised to have this number falling by 2024. However, there is some good news as this is the first time the list has decreased overall since November 2022. Unfortunately, there has been a rise in cases of 78-week breaches which have gone up to 10,500.
Important update: The NHS waiting list has decreased by a very small amount (0.5%), but still stands at a staggering 7.7 million people waiting for treatment, which is around 500,000 more than what the Prime Minister promised to reduce it to by 2024. On the positive side, this is the first time the list has decreased overall since November 2022. However, there is negative news as breaches of waiting time limits over 78 weeks have increased to 10,500. If you want to find out more, you can view the latest data by following this link: https://t.co/07WtEWw2cf.
Here's a statement made by Stuart Hoddinott, who belongs to the Institute for Government thinktank.
Fresh elective information has been released today, indicating a substantial decline of 65,000 in the overall waiting list throughout October. Although this decrease is significant, it still results in a colossal waiting list that is 490,000 higher than the amount promised by Sunak at the start of the year when he vowed to reduce waiting lists.
It's also common for the optional schedule to decrease during this season.
????Breaking news: The latest elective data has just been released and it shows a significant decrease of 65,000 in the total waiting list for October. Although this is a noteworthy fall, the overall waiting list remains 490,000 above the levels in January when Sunak pledged to reduce waiting times.
At this time of year, it is common for the elective list to decrease.
Scott Benton's suspension from the Commons for 35 days is expected to be approved by MPs without any opposition. This will activate the Recall of MPs Act, meaning that if 10% of voters in the constituency sign a petition calling for a byelection, one will be held.
The political groups are getting ready for a recall vote in Wellingborough after Peter Bone was suspended. A petition will be closed by next week on Tuesday, and it's anticipated that it will easily reach the required 10% threshold. Previously, Wellingborough voted for the Labour party in 1997 and 2001, but during the last election, Bone won by a significant margin of 18,540 votes for the Conservative party.
Only one situation has occurred where a call for a vote to remove a politician from office was initiated, but the people campaigning for an election failed to gather sufficient signatures. This specific incident happened in North Antrim during July 2018, when Ian Paisley, a member of the Democratic Unionist Party, was suspended for a period of 30 days.
So far, there have been three byelections held due to recalls-the Peterborough, Brecon and Radnorshire, and Rutherglen and Hamilton West. It is possible that two more will take place. However, the possibility of a recall vote may have influenced other politicians, such as Boris Johnson, to leave their positions after a standards committee investigation recommended suspension.
The political alliance of the Recall of MPs Act passed the law, which was mostly supported by the Liberal Democrats. Some people had raised concerns that the law was not powerful enough. In reality, due to the high number of misbehaving Members of Parliament during this period of governance, the law has proven to have greater impact than initially anticipated.
The recall procedure can be well understood with the help of the briefing paper provided on the Commons library website, which can be accessed from this link.
"Scott Benton's Remarks To Reporters Resulted In 35-Day Parliament Suspension"
Scott Benton is facing consequences for his involvement in lobbying, but it's not because he actually violated the rules that forbid MPs from participating in paid lobbying when he talked to secret journalists. The committee found fault with Benton because he suggested that he could break the rules and went as far as stating that other MPs have done so in the past, which hurt the reputation of the House of Commons.
Below are a few snippets from the report that detail Benton's statements and explain why they were seen as harmful to the reputation of parliament.
In terms of Benton's willingness to defy the rules, there is evidence to suggest that he is not averse to breaking them himself.
After that, a journalist inquired with Mr. Benton about the support he could provide in terms of "understanding and gaining an understanding of what's happening behind the scenes and what we can expect in the future." Mr. Benton replied:
One of the most important things is getting information in real-time. If I need to speak directly with a government official, I can usually arrange for them to call me back within a day or so. If that doesn't work, I might need to go through the traditional voting lobbies process. For example, if I sent a letter to a minister and needed an urgent response within a week, but didn't receive it, I could wait outside their office until they appeared. This is something only Members of Parliament are authorized to do, as it helps to ensure a quicker exchange of information and answers.
If a Member of Parliament were to carry out any of the activities mentioned above in exchange for money, it would go against the lobbying regulations of the House.
Regarding other Members of Parliament being prepared to violate regulations
During an interview with undercover journalists, Mr. Benton discussed how easily members would accept paid hospitality, such as renting a box at Cheltenham races, and how they would even seek out opportunities for it. He mentioned that members who had accepted these offers could be asked to do something in return, and he would be willing to use his connections to bring colleagues along for meetings with company representatives. He also offered to host a dinner at the House of Commons where they could discuss specific issues and gain the support of willing colleagues. These "specific asks" most likely referred to services that Mr. Benton could provide to the company, which would be against the house's rules. It is clear from his statements that other members had engaged in similar behavior in the past and would likely do so again in the future.
During the meeting, a journalist asked a question that further sparked the conversation. The reporter inquired, "If we extend an invitation to someone, is it fair to assume that they should reciprocate in some way since we provided a pleasant experience for them?" To this, Mr. Benton replied:
Typically, many coworkers would undertake such tasks, although not all would be inclined to do so. A few may express appreciation for the pleasant weather but fail to follow up with a phone call or email. However, the majority would assist with reasonable requests, such as gathering information from staff, drafting parliamentary inquiries, or forwarding questions for the next oral session in the House of Commons. Additionally, we occasionally endorse correspondences on behalf of various businesses.
After analyzing Mr. Benton's remarks throughout the meeting, we believe that the most logical conclusion is that he was not only expressing his own willingness to break the rules, but also suggesting that many other members of the house share this mentality. This implies that they have been willing to ignore and have previously ignored these rules.
Scott Benton was scrutinized for breaking the regulations of the House of Commons due to his statements given to covert journalists from the Times. These journalists pretended to be employed by a financial organization searching for an MP with the ability to assist in regards to gambling policies.
Daniel Greenberg, who is the parliamentary commissioner for standards, looked into the complaint and found some important information. The report he created has been included in the standards committee's report as an appendix.
After carefully examining the facts presented, I have come to the following conclusions:
Mr. Benton was absent from the meeting because it was related to his personal and private life. The company was pretending to want to hire him because of his connections to the House of Commons and its members.
Mr. Benton expressed that:
He had broken the rules of the house previously. ii) many kids find it hard to adjust to a new school; Lots of children struggle to adapt to a different school. iii) the company is proposing to downsize the workforce; The business is planning to reduce the number of employees.
He was prepared to violate or go around the rules set forth by the household for the benefit of the company if he was paid for it.
Additionally, some members have broken or gone around the rules of the residence in the past and may do so again in exchange for compensation.
I have not discovered any proof to validate a conclusion that Mr. Benton violated the regulations of the parliament outside of this particular gathering.
After discovering this information, I believe that Mr. Benton's actions belong to the type of behavior that can harm the House of Commons' overall reputation and honesty, and therefore, it's a violation of paragraph 11 of the code.
Committee Deems Scott Benton Worthy Of 'serious Sanction' - The Verdict Explained
The findings of the standards committee's investigation into Scott Benton have resulted in a conclusion.
Mr. Benton broke rule number 11 by openly stating his disregard for the house's rules on paid lobbying. This made it seem like many other members of the house are also engaged in similar misconduct. His words could mislead the public into thinking that all MPs are morally corrupt, which would be very damaging to our democracy and respect for Parliament.
It is necessary to impose a severe penalty. We suggest that the house temporarily remove Mr. Benton from his position for a period of 35 days, during which he will not receive any pay.
The eleventh paragraph within the regulations of conduct for Members of Parliament states:
Individuals who belong to the House of Commons must never engage in any behavior that could harm the overall standing or ethical principles of either the House as an entity or its individual members.
"MP Scott Benton To Be Suspended 35 Days For Lobbying Offer To Reporters"
The committee responsible for setting common standards has released a new report on Scott Benton, who was previously a Conservative MP but is now suspended from the party and is serving as an independent representative. He had been the subject of an investigation after expressing a willingness to lobby for the gambling sector during an interview with undercover journalists.
According to the committee, Benton has violated parliamentary regulations and deserves a suspension lasting 35 days. If this punishment is implemented, activists can initiate a recall byelection in his constituency of Blackpool South, where he only managed to beat Labour by a margin of 3,690 votes during the most recent election.
Rishi Sunak Denies Tetchiness, Vows Tax Gear Shift For Tories
Hello! Rishi Sunak recently had an interview with the Spectator, which is a magazine often read by those who align themselves with the conservative political party. In the interview, there were two points that stood out. One was related to Sunak's personal life and wasn't very significant, while the other was quite expected but will have a big impact on the upcoming election campaign.
During her interview with Sunak, Katy Balls brought up a term that reporters often use to describe Sunak's attitude when he is placed in difficult situations. Sunak refuted the claim that he is "tetchy" and stated that he is rather "passionate" about his beliefs. Balls documented this exchange in her article.
He has been accused of being easily irritated, especially during his recent disagreement with the Greek Prime Minister about the Elgin Marbles. When asked what he thinks of this accusation, he seems confused. He explains that during his leadership campaign, he faced a lot of criticism but fought hard for what he believed in every day for six weeks. He continues to fight for his beliefs now and insists that he is not easily irritated but rather passionately invested. He admits that when things don't go the way he wants them to, he can become frustrated.
The key message revolved around taxation and the Conservatives' election strategy for the upcoming year. It is widely known that Sunak plans to present the Conservatives as a party that prioritizes tax reductions in comparison to Labour (despite the fact that tax rates are increasing at an all-time high). However, there were two distinctive points that were introduced.
Initially, he made a commitment to alter the Tories' perspective towards taxation (suggested an increased promise of tax reductions that skeptics viewed as an indication of a desperate attempt to win the election).
Additionally, he made it clear that he intended to utilize reductions in welfare spending to finance those projects.
Sunak discussed tax with Balls.
I've always maintained that I believe in Thatcherism in its purest form. Just like Nigel Lawson and Margaret Thatcher once emphasized, our primary goal is to reduce inflation and taxes. And that's exactly what we've achieved! In fact, we've implemented more tax reductions in a single fiscal event than what was done during the entire decade of the 80s.
Balls pointed out the clear fact that taxes are quite burdensome, to which Sunak provided a response.
Wow, you're seeing the situation in a pessimistic light. You need to distinguish between different factors. See, do you know why taxes are so high? It's because we experienced a rare pandemic and there was a conflict in Ukraine, both of which required a massive response from the government...
In the upcoming election, you have two options to select from: me and Keir Starmer. The Labour party aims to borrow £28 billion annually, resulting in a lack of control over the management of welfare and public spending. On the contrary, the Conservative party promises to take care of these aspects and simultaneously reduce your taxes.
According to Balls, Sunak, in his role as chancellor, was taken aback to discover that one-third of households in the UK are receiving some form of benefit. He confided in her that he believed further changes were necessary.
For the past ten years, we haven't made any changes to the requirements for receiving welfare benefits. Presently, three times as many individuals are being excused from working due to poor health compared to ten years ago. I am skeptical that the population has become three times unhealthier.
Making certain alterations may require more time as they involve modifying a highly intricate system. Moving forward, our focus is on managing expenses and social support programs to lower the tax rate. This is achievable due to our success in decreasing inflation. The economy is now turning around, which provides an opportunity to revamp our approach to taxes.
This is the schedule planned for the day.
At 9:30 in the morning, the latest performance data from NHS England is released.
Today, in the morning, the Commons standards committee is likely to release their findings regarding the accusations made against Scott Benton, who is a member of the Conservative party.
In the morning, Rishi Sunak paid a visit to a school located in the northern part of London.
At half past eleven in the morning, there is a lobby briefing that takes place in Downing Street.
At three in the afternoon, David Cameron provides testimony to the European affairs committee of the House of Lords.
To get in touch with me, you can use the "send us a message" feature located below the article on the left-hand side of the screen if you are reading on your computer. This feature is specifically for those who want to reach out to me directly. I find it helpful when people message me about mistakes or typos so I can correct them. Your questions are also intriguing, and while I cannot respond to all of them, I will do my best to answer as many as possible either in the comment section, through email (if appropriate), or in a future blog post if it's a topic of general interest.
