Former Tory MP Scott Benton is facing a 35-day ban from Parliament for his role in a lobbying scandal.
The Commons watchdog said the actions of the Blackpool South MP were an “extremely serious breach” of parliamentary rules after he offered to lobby ministers on behalf of gambling investors.
Mr Benton has served as an independent MP since he was stripped of the Tory whip in April this year,
He is one of the 18 Members of Parliament currently suspended, joining the likes of Dianne Abbott, Jeremy Corbyn and Matt Hancock.
The full list is as follows:
Diane Abbott
Diane Abbott was stripped of the Labour whip in April this year after she suggested that Jewish people do not suffer racism “all their lives”. Labour condemned Ms Abbott’s “deeply offensive” remarks in a letter she wrote to The Observer and confirmed that the whip has been suspended pending an investigation.
Crispin Blunt
The former Conservative MP was suspended by the party in October this year after being arrested on suspicion of rape. Mr Blunt, MP for Reigate since 1997 and a former justice minister, has protested his innocence.
Peter Bone
Peter Bone was suspended from Parliament in October of this year for six weeks after an investigation found he had bullied and was sexually inappropriate around a former member of staff. The Conservatives had already withdrawn the whip from the MP, who then voted as an independent in the Rwanda Bill.
Nick Brown
The veteran Labour MP had the whip suspended in September 2022 after a complaint was lodged against him, the details of which were not made public.
This month he resigned from the party over the lengthy disciplinary process which he called a “complete farce” and said he would not stand again in the next election.
Bambos Charalambous
The former shadow minister was suspended by the Labour party after a complaint about his conduct. Mr Charalambous, MP for Enfield Southgate, tweeted in June: “I am aware that there is an allegation that requires investigation by the Labour Party. It is right and proper that process is allowed to take place. I will cooperate fully and play my full part.”
Jeremy Corbyn
The former Labour leader was suspended by the party in 2020 after he claimed that anti-Semitism in the party had been overstated for political ends. Sir Keir Starmer then announced in February of this year that Mr Corbyn will not stand as a Labour candidate at the next election, although the Islington North MP has suggested he will run as an independent.
Geraint Davies
Labour stripped Mr Davies of the whip in June this year pending an internal investigation into harassment claims. The MP for Swansea West has been accused of subjecting six younger female colleagues to unwanted physical and verbal sexual attention, as well as taking sex workers to Parliament bars.
Jonathan Edwards
The MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr quit Plaid Cymru following his arrest in May 2020 on suspicion of assault. Mr Edwards received a police caution for common assault on his wife, Emma Edwards. The pair have since divorced.
Mr Edwards has since said he is considering running as an independent MP in the next election, claiming he still has local support.
Matt Hancock
The former health secretary was suspended from the Conservative Party after entering reality TV series I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in November 2022. Mr Hancock was reportedly paid £400,000 for appearing on the show, in which he finished in third place. He then returned to TV screens in September in the series Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins where he reportedly broke a rib. He now sits as an independent MP.
Julian Knight
Julian Knight had the Tory whip suspended in December last year over investigations into sexual assault that were later dropped by the Met. The MP for Solihull has since said he will not stand at the next election, claiming the accusations had damaged his mental wellbeing.
Angus Brendan MacNeil
Angus Brendan MacNeil was suspended from the SNP in July after an alleged row with the party’s chief whip. The MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar confirmed he would stand as an independent candidate at the next general election.
Andy McDonald
Sir Keir Starmer kicked out the MP for Middlesbrough for making reference to the controversial “from the river to the sea” chant at a pro-Palestine rally in the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas attack. A party spokesman said Mr McDonald’s comments “were deeply offensive, particularly at a time of rising anti-Semitism which has left Jewish people fearful for their safety”.
Conor McGinn
Conor McGinn was suspended by Labour in December 2022 pending an internal party investigation into a complaint against him. The nature of the complaint against the MP for St Helens North has not been made public.
Christina Rees
The Neath MP Christina Rees was suspended from the Labour Party in October last year following reported allegations of bullying. Ms Rees, who had represented her constituency since 2015, was barred from standing as the Labour candidate in the next election.
Rob Roberts
Mr Roberts was suspended from the House of Commons in May after a report found the Delyn MP had committed sexual misconduct, including the sexual harassment of a member of his staff. He then lost the Tory whip in 2021 and has since sat as an independent MP.
Bob Stewart
Bob Stewart surrendered the Tory whip after being found guilty of racial abuse in November. The 74-year-old MP for Beckenham told an activist to “go back to Bahrain” during a confrontation. Following the conviction he said he would stand down at the next election.
Claudia Webbe
Claudia Webbe was expelled from the Labour Party in November 2021 after she was convicted of harassment. The Leicester East MP had targeted love rival Michelle Merritt, 59, between September 2018 and April 2020. Ms Webbe was sentenced to community service and now serves as an independent MP.
This is a list of the by-elections that have taken place since June 2022:
Tamworth, October 2023 – By-election triggered after Christopher Pincher (Conservative) received an eight-week sentence for groping two men.
Rutherglen and Hamilton West, October 2023 – Constituents voted to remove Margaret Ferrier (SNP) for breaching Covid-19 regulations in 2020.
Somerton and Frome, July 2023 – David Warburton (Conservative) resigned after allegations of sexual misconduct.
Uxbridge and South Ruislip, July 2023: Boris Johnson (Conservative) resigned amid “Partygate” inquiry.
City of Chester, December 2022 – Christian Matheson (Labour) resigned after allegations of sexual misconduct.
Tiverton and Honiton, June 2022 – Neil Parish (Conservative) resigned after admitting to watching pornography in Parliament.
Wakefield, June 2022 – Imran Ahmad (Conservative) resigned after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy.
