A Tory MP has had the whip suspended after allegedly offering to leak a policy document and lobby ministers on behalf of fake gambling industry investors who proposed offering him thousands of pounds.
Scott Benton - the MP for Blackpool South since 2019 - was secretly filmed by reporters at The Times claiming to be investors during a 70-minute meeting last month.
The undercover journalists suggested a fee of £2,000-£4,000 for two days' work to Mr Benton, who boasted of his "direct" access to ministers.
Strict rules make clear MPs are forbidden from lobbying in return for payment.
A spokesperson for Chief Whip Simon Hart said: "Following his self-referral to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards earlier this evening, Scott Benton has had the Conservative Party Whip suspended whilst an investigation is ongoing."
The Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper described the report as "shocking" and "yet another damning indictment of the state of the Conservative Party ".
She demanded Rishi Sunak immediately remove the whip from Mr Benton, saying: "Anything less would make a mockery of his claim to restore integrity".
According to The Times, the Tory MP offered to submit parliamentary questions, which require a ministerial response, for the investors.
Mr Benton said he would need to indicate he had a relevant interest when tabling such a question - but wouldn't have to "declare what the interest is".
He spoke of his "direct" access to ministers, saying: "The beauty of politicians, if you like, are we vote in the House of Commons two or three times a day, and we’ll be voting later.
“You will literally stand at the beginning at the entrance to the voting lobby. And if you wait there for five minutes, the minister has to pass you. And then you’ve got ten minutes while you walk around to the next vote to have his ear.”
The Tory MP also suggested he could "guarantee" to pass on a copy of a gambling white paper "within 48 hours of publication".
At the end of the meeting the undercover reporters offered a fee between £2,000 and £4,000 for two days of work. Mr Benton replied: "Yes, I think that's, yeah".
In a statement, he told The Times: "Last month I was approached by a purported company offering me an expert advisory role.
"I met with two individuals claiming to represent the company to find out what this role entailed. After this meeting, I was asked to forward my CV and some other personal details.
"I did not do so as I was concerned that what was being asked of me was not within the Parliamentary rules."
He added: "I contacted the Commons Registrar and the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner who clarified these rules for me and had no further contact with the company.
"I did this before being made aware that the company did not exist and the individuals claiming to represent it were journalists".
The Mirror has contacted Mr Benton for comment.
