Scott Benton (politician)
Scott Benton | |
|---|---|
 Benton in 2019 | |
| Member of Parliament for Blackpool South | |
| Assumed office 12 December 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Gordon Marsden |
| Majority | 3,690 (11.3%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 July 1987 Newport, Wales |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Alma mater | University of Nottingham |
Scott Lloyd Benton (born 1 July 1987) is a British Conservative Party politician who was elected at the 2019 general election as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Blackpool South.[1] He was previously a councillor on Calderdale Council.[2]
Early life and education
Benton was born in Newport to parents Alan and Krystina Benton,[1] but spent most of his early life in West Yorkshire. At the age of 11, he attended his local state school in Brighouse, Rastrick High School.[citation needed]
He studied Theology as an undergraduate at the University of Nottingham and was awarded a First Class Honours degree.[1] During this time he also worked in the Students' Union bar.[citation needed] He remained at the university to study for a postgraduate degree and gained a Masters in Theology.[1]
After leaving formal education, Benton worked as a primary school teacher.[citation needed]
Political career
In 2011, Benton was elected to Calderdale Council for the Brighouse ward, centred on the area of that name.[3] As a councillor he spent periods of time as Deputy Leader of the Council and then Leader of the Conservative Group. He was an active councillor in his ward, assisting over 400 individuals with local issues in 2017.[4]
Alongside being a councillor, Benton worked as a Parliamentary Assistant for Craig Whittaker, the Conservative MP for Calder Valley.[5]
Benton previously ran for Strangford at the 2017 Northern Ireland Assembly election[6] and Huddersfield, a safe seat for the Labour Party, at the 2017 general election.[7]
Benton contested and won Blackpool South at the 2019 general election. His win marks the first time since 1997 that the constituency has been represented by a Conservative. He achieved a swing of 9.4%, and was elected with a majority of 3,690 votes. His campaign focused on delivering Brexit, reopening Blackpool Airport for commercial flights and opposing the plans for development on Stanley Park Golf Course.[citation needed]
Following an interim report on the connections between colonialism and properties now in the care of the National Trust, including links with historic slavery, Benton was among the signatories of a letter to The Telegraph in November 2020 from the "Common Sense Group" of Conservative Parliamentarians. The letter accused the National Trust of being "coloured by cultural Marxist dogma, colloquially known as the 'woke agenda'".[8]
Breach of parliamentary rules
In January 2021, Benton was found to have broken parliamentary rules.[9] The complainant alleged Benton had failed to register six entries in the Register of Members' Financial Interests within the House's 28-day deadline, for payments received for his work as a Member's researcher.
When asked about the allegations in November 2020, Benton said that "an admin error" meant his income from Calderdale Council was not properly declared. Benton said there had been "vexatious and deeply unpleasant" complaints about his conduct. He said: "I have no doubt that the complaints... made about me to Calderdale Council and the Parliamentary authorities will be found to be without substance."[10]
The Commissioner said that in failing to register his various interests within the specified time frame, she found he had breached the rules. After the complaint was upheld, Benton said: "I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge my mistake and apologise once again for inadvertently breaching the rules."[9]
Personal life
Outside of politics, Benton's main recreation is sport: he is a Tottenham Hotspur FC season ticket holder. He is also a member of the Carlton Club.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Benton, Scott Lloyd, (born 1 July 1987), MP (C) Blackpool South, since 2019". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u293926. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ Greenwood, John; Earnshaw, Tom (25 March 2021). "Blackpool MP Scott Benton quits as Yorkshire councillor". LancsLive. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ "Brighouse: Election of District Councillors 2011 - 05/05/2011: Calderdale Council". Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council.
- ^ "Calderdale Council". www.calderdale.gov.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Calderdale councillor selected as Conservative candidate for Blackpool South". www.halifaxcourier.co.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
- ^ Monaghan, John (3 February 2017). "Assembly candidates, with just one 'parachuted' in from Britain". The Irish News. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
- ^ Lavigueur, Nick (6 June 2017). "General Election 2017: Huddersfield candidates pitch for your vote". Huddersfield Examiner. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
- ^ "Britain's heroes". Letter to the Daily Telegraph. 9 November 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
{{cite press release}}: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ a b Greenwood, John (12 January 2021). "Calderdale councillor and Blackpool South MP breached Parliamentary rules". Halifax Courier. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
- ^ Graves, James (2 November 2020). "Blackpool MP and Calderdale councillor Scott Benton facing separate investigations relating to his conduct and finances". Halifax Courier. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
External links
Media related to Scott Benton (politician) at Wikimedia Commons- Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
- Voting record at Public Whip
- Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou
