2024 Blackpool South by-election: Difference between revisions
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As the length of Benton's suspension exceeded the ten-day threshold designated in the [[Recall of MPs Act 2015]], a recall procedure was triggered.<ref name=":0" /> |
As the length of Benton's suspension exceeded the ten-day threshold designated in the [[Recall of MPs Act 2015]], a recall procedure was triggered.<ref name=":0" /> |
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The signing period began on Tuesday 12 March and was set to run until Monday 22 April 2024.<ref name=":1">{{cite news |date=12 March 2024 |title=Recall petition - Blackpool South |url=https://www.blackpool.gov.uk/Your-Council/Voting-and-elections/Recall-petition/Recall-petition-Blackpool-South.aspx |access-date=13 March 2024}}</ref> The number of signatures required for the petition to be successful, 10% of the constituency's electorate, was 5,634.<ref name=":1" /> |
The signing period began on Tuesday 12 March and was set to run until Monday 22 April 2024.<ref name=":1">{{cite news |date=12 March 2024 |title=Recall petition - Blackpool South |url=https://www.blackpool.gov.uk/Your-Council/Voting-and-elections/Recall-petition/Recall-petition-Blackpool-South.aspx |access-date=13 March 2024}}</ref> The number of signatures required for the petition to be successful, 10% of the constituency's electorate, was 5,634.<ref name=":1" /> The Labour party officially registered as campaigning for the petition's success.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 March 2024 |title=Petition campaigners |url=https://www.blackpool.gov.uk/Your-Council/Voting-and-elections/Recall-petition/Petition-campaigners.aspx |url-status=live |access-date=26 March 2024 |website=Blackpool Council}}</ref> |
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=== Resignation === |
=== Resignation === |
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Revision as of 20:22, 26 March 2024
Blackpool South constituency | |||
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 Boundary of Blackpool South in Lancashire | |||
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A by-election is expected to take place in the UK Parliament constituency of Blackpool South following the resignation of incumbent MP Scott Benton.[1]
Benton had been suspended for 35-days from House of Commons after being caught in a newspaper sting operation offering lobbying services for payment. This triggered a recall petition, which had started, but was then terminated by Benton's resignation.
The timing of the election is yet to be determined, though an expected date of 2 May has been reported.[2]
Background
Constituency
Blackpool South had been a Labour-held seat since 1997, until it was won by Conservative candidate Scott Benton in the 2019 general election. It is considered one of the seats that make up the "red wall".[3] It is one of the most deprived constituencies in England, with low levels of employment and high amounts of crime.[4]
Corruption allegations
In April 2023 The Times published an article resulting from a sting operation alleging that Benton was willing to table parliamentary questions, leak documents and lobby ministers on behalf of gambling companies in return for "thousands of pounds per month".[5] He also told the reporters that other MPs would be similarly willing to accept such payments.[6] Benton was subsequently suspended from the Conservative Party,[7] sitting thereafter as an independent MP.[8]
In December 2023 the House of Commons' Standards Committee found that he had breached the House's rules and recommended a 35-day suspension from the House.[6] This finding was appealed to the Independent Expert Panel, but the panel "found no substance" in Benton's arguments and dismissed the appeal.[9] On 27 February 2024 the Commons approved a motion suspending Benton from the House for 35 days.[8]
Recall petition
As the length of Benton's suspension exceeded the ten-day threshold designated in the Recall of MPs Act 2015, a recall procedure was triggered.[8]
The signing period began on Tuesday 12 March and was set to run until Monday 22 April 2024.[10] The number of signatures required for the petition to be successful, 10% of the constituency's electorate, was 5,634.[10] The Labour party officially registered as campaigning for the petition's success.[11]
Resignation
Benton resigned as an MP on 25 March 2024, terminating the recall petition almost two weeks into the signing period. A by-election is expected to be held to fill the vacancy.[12]
Campaign
The writ of election was moved on 26 March 2024.[13] The by-election is expected to be held on 2 May 2024, concurrently with local and police and crime commissioner elections.[13]
Candidates
Labour selected Chris Webb to stand for the constituency in August 2023. Webb is a former assistant to Gordon Marsden, who represented Blackpool South from 1997 to 2019.[14][15]
The Liberal Democrats selected Andy Cregan as their candidate.[16] He served as a Labour member of Tower Hamlets London Borough Council for Island Gardens from 2014 to 2018.
Reform UK selected local charity worker Mark Butcher to stand their candidate.[17]
Previous result
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | Scott Benton | 16,247 | 49.6 | +6.5 | |
| Labour | Gordon Marsden | 12,557 | 38.3 | -12.0 | |
| Brexit Party | David Brown | 2,009 | 6.1 | N/A | |
| Liberal Democrats | Bill Greene | 1,008 | 3.1 | +1.3 | |
| Green | Becky Daniels | 563 | 1.7 | +0.7 | |
| Independent | Gary Coleman | 368 | 1.1 | N/A | |
| Majority | 3,690 | 11.3 | N/A | ||
| Turnout | 32,752 | 56.8 | -3.0 | ||
| Conservative gain from Labour | Swing | +9.3 | |||
References
- ^ "Former Tory MP resigns leaving PM to face new by-election". BBC News. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ "Former Tory MP Scott Benton resigns from parliament, triggering by-election". Sky News. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ Gutteridge, Nick (25 March 2024). "Sunak faces another critical Red Wall by-election as Scott Benton resigns". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ Clarke-Ezzidio, Harry (20 February 2024). "Did Blackpool South's gamble on the Tories' Scott Benton pay off?". New Statesman. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ Kenber, Billy; Nachiappan, Arthi (6 April 2023). "Exposed: How Tory MP offered to lobby for gambling investors". The Times. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Scott Benton - Second Report of Session 2023–24". 14 December 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ "Scott Benton suspended as Tory MP after lobbying sting". 5 April 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ a b c "Scott Benton: Lobbying scandal MP recall petition triggered". BBC News. 27 February 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ Rogers, Alexandra; Scott, Jennifer (27 February 2024). "Rishi Sunak braced for another by-election after ex-Tory MP Scott Benton suspended from Commons". Sky News. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Recall petition - Blackpool South". 12 March 2024. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
- ^ "Petition campaigners". Blackpool Council. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Former Tory MP resigns leaving PM to face new by-election". BBC News. 25 March 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Blackpool South by-election to take place in May". BBC News. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ Belger, Tom (25 March 2024). "Blackpool South by-election confirmed: Meet Labour candidate Chris Webb". LabourList. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ Parkinson, Shelagh (16 August 2023). "Local candidate Chris is bidding to seize Blackpool South from Tories at next election". Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ Pack, Mark (28 February 2024). "Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary Candidates". Mark Pack. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ Maddox, David (25 March 2024). "Meet the man set to drive a bus through Tory hopes in a crucial by-election". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Blackpool South parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". BBC News.