Former Tory MP Scott Benton faces a 35-day ban from Parliament for his role in the lobbying scandal.
The actions of the Blackpool South MP, who offered to lobby ministers on behalf of gambling investors, were an “extremely serious breach” of parliamentary rules, a Commons watchdog has said.
Mr Benton has been an independent MP since being sacked from the Conservative Party in April this year.
He is one of 18 members of Parliament currently suspended, along with the likes of Dianne Abbott, Jeremy Corbyn and Matt Hancock.
The full list is as follows:
diane abbott
Diane Abbott was stripped of the Labor whip in April this year after claiming that Jewish people would not be subjected to racism “in their lifetimes”. Labor condemned Ms Abbott’s “deeply offensive” remarks in a letter to The Observer and confirmed the flogging had been suspended pending an investigation.
Crispin Blunt
The former Conservative MP was suspended by the party in October this year after he was arrested on suspicion of rape. Mr Blunt, MP for Reigate since 1997 and former justice minister, protested his innocence.
Peter Bone
Peter Bone was suspended from Parliament for six weeks in October this year after an investigation found he had been bullied and behaved sexually inappropriate around a former staff member. The Conservatives had already pulled the whip on the MP, who later voted as an independent on the Rwanda Bill.
Nick Brown
The senior Labor MP was sentenced to the lash in September 2022 following a complaint against him, the details of which were not made public.
This month, he resigned from the party over a lengthy disciplinary process he described as “a complete farce” and said he would not run again at the next election.
Bambos Charalambous
The former shadow minister was suspended by Labor after complaints about his behaviour. Mr Charalambous, MP for Enfield Southgate, tweeted in June: “I am aware there is an allegation by the Labor Party that requires an investigation. It is right and proper to allow the process to take place. “I will cooperate fully and do my full part.”
Jeremy Corbyn
The former Labor leader was suspended by the party in 2020 after claiming that anti-Semitism in the party was exaggerated for political purposes. Sir Keir Starmer later announced in February this year that Mr Corbyn would not stand as a Labor candidate at the next election, although the Islington North MP suggested he would run as an independent.
Geraint Davies
Labor stripped Mr Davies of his whip in June this year, pending the completion of an internal investigation into harassment allegations. The Swansea West MP was accused of subjecting six young female colleagues to unwanted physical and verbal sexual advances, as well as taking sex workers to Parliament bars.
Jonathan Edwards
The MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr left Plaid Cymru following his arrest on suspicion of assault in May 2020. Mr Edwards received a police caution for a flagrant assault on his wife, Emma Edwards. The couple later divorced.
Mr Edwards has since said he is considering running as an independent MP at the next election and claims he still has local support.
Matt Hancock
Former health minister, I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! He was suspended from the Conservative Party after appearing on the reality TV series. Mr Hancock was reportedly paid £400,000 to appear on the show and finished the show in third place. He then returned to television in September in Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, where he reportedly fractured a rib. He currently serves as an independent MP.
Julian Knight
Julian Knight was suspended as the Tory whip in December last year over sexual assault investigations which were later dropped by the Met. The Solihull MP has since said he will not stand in the next election, claiming the charges were damaging his mental health.
Angus Brendan MacNeil
Angus Brendan MacNeil was suspended from the SNP in July following an alleged row with the party’s chief leader. Na h-Eileanan an Iar MP has confirmed that he will run as an independent candidate in the next general election.
Andy McDonald
Sir Keir Starmer fired the Middlesbrough MP for referencing the controversial “river to sea” slogan at a pro-Palestinian rally following the October 7 Hamas attack. A party spokesman said Mr McDonald’s comments were “deeply offensive, especially at a time of rising anti-Semitism that has left Jewish people fearful for their safety”.
Conor McGinn
Conor McGinn has been suspended by the Labor Party pending an internal party investigation into a complaint against him in December 2022. The nature of the complaint against the St Helens North MP has not been made public.
Christina Rees
Neath MP Christina Rees was suspended from the Labor Party in October last year following bullying allegations. Ms Rees, who has represented her constituency since 2015, has been banned from standing as a Labor candidate at the next election.
Robert Roberts
Mr Roberts was suspended from the House of Commons in May after a report found the Delyn MP had engaged in sexual harassment, including sexual harassment against one of his staff. He later lost his Tory whip in 2021 and has been serving as an independent MP ever since.
bob stewart
Bob Stewart handed over the Tory whip after he was found guilty of racist abuse in November. The 74-year-old MP for Beckenham told a protester to “go back to Bahrain” during the clash. After the conviction, he said he would stand down at the next election.
Claudia Webbe
Claudia Webbe was expelled from the Labor Party in November 2021 after being convicted of harassment. The Leicester East MP 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.
Below is the list of by-elections held since June 2022:
Tamworth, October 2023 – A by-election has been triggered after Christopher Pincher (Conservative) was sentenced to eight weeks in prison for groping two men.
Rutherglen and Hamilton West, October 2023 – Founders voted to remove Margaret Ferrier (SNP) for breaching Covid-19 regulations in 2020.
Somerton and Frome, July 2023 – David Warburton (Conservative) resigns following sexual harassment allegations.
Uxbridge and South Ruislip, July 2023: Boris Johnson (Conservative) resigns over ‘Partygate’ investigation.
City of Chester, December 2022 – Christian Matheson (Labour) resigns following sexual harassment allegations.
Tiverton and Honiton, June 2022 – Neil Parish (Conservative) resigned after admitting to viewing pornography in Parliament.
Wakefield, June 2022 – Imran Ahmad (Conservative) resigned after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old boy.