Today, a report from the Committee on Standards has recommended Scott Benton MP be suspended from the House of Commons for 35 days for breaching the MPs’ Code of Conduct. It found his actions breached the rule on refraining from behaviour which could cause significant damage to the reputation of the House of Commons.

The report outlined how Mr Benton MP expressed an interest in a paid, part-time role with a fictious company, created by undercover reporters. He was filmed describing how he could further the interests of the company, including by setting up meetings with ministers, lobbying ministers, approaching other Members, tabling questions in Parliament and providing access to government documents. Providing these services for a private company would have constituted serious breaches of the House of Commons’ lobbying rules.  

Responding the Committee’s report, Steve Goodrich, Head of Research and Investigations at Transparency International UK, said:

“With trust in politicians perilously low, the actions of every MP matter. Behaviour that shows at best an ambivalent attitude to the House’s rules, and at worst a complete disregard for them, can only further erode the public’s faith in our democratic institutions.  

“This case highlights once again the risks of allowing MPs to moonlight with second jobs alongside their public duties. The temptation to use their positions for profit is too great for some. Parliament should ban outside employment for MPs, with only very limited exceptions, and put an end to the impression that our MPs can be bought.”  

Notes to editors:

* Polling from the UCL Constitution Unit found that 52% of respondents believed that politicians had lower ethical standards than ordinary citizens https://www.ucl.ac.uk/constitution-unit/news/2023/mar/new-report-uk-voters-want-politicians-face-stronger-checks-and-balances  

**Transparency International UK recommends that MPs are prohibited from second jobs except in very limited circumstances. These exceptions would include roles that require the maintenance of professional registrations, political activity or providing an essential public service, such as army reservists.

***Previous research from Transparency International UK found that 73 MPs received over £3.4 million in fees for external advisory roles in one year. Advisory roles are particularly risky as they can stray into lobbying activities or advice on how to lobby the government, which is expressly not allowed under the MPs’ Code of Conduct.