A Tory MP was suspended after a tabloid trap caught him pressing ministers to divulge market-sensitive information for a fictitious firm.
Scott Benton, Rishi Sunak’s 2019 legislator, was suspended pending an inquiry.
The Times revealed a video showing Benton informing its undercover reporters, posed as gambling industry investors seeking paid assistance, that he may leak a market-sensitive government policy document on gaming changes.
Benton authorized ministerial and parliamentary questions. But, the Times they were reported journalists offered him hundreds of pounds a month.
Parliamentarians cannot take money to lobby ministers, ask questions, or advise on influencing parliament.
A spokeswoman said Conservative Party discipline head Simon Hart suspended Benton after referring himself to the independent Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.
Reuters didn’t hear from Benton’s office.
“What was demanded of me was not within legislative standards,” the lawmaker told BBC.
“The Commons registrar and parliamentary standards commissioner validated these limits for me,” he claimed.
“I did this before knowing the company did not exist and the representatives were journalists.”
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