Scott Benton, a Conservative MP, has resigned, triggering a by-election in Blackpool South after a standards watchdog recommended a 35-day suspension over a gambling industry scandal. This follows speculation that Benton resigned ahead of a potential push by voters through a recall petition. The resignation sets up a significant challenge for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as all signs point to a potential Labour gain in the upcoming by-election. Observers note little expected Tory campaigning, drawing parallels with previous by-elections in Wellingborough, Rochdale, and Kingswood. The by-election also poses a test for the Reform Party, which has seen a rise in polls over the last 6 months and is expected to challenge the Tories for second place. In the 2015 General Election, UKIP, Reform's precursor, came third in Blackpool South with 17.3% of the vote. In the 2019 General Election, the Brexit Party secured 6.1% of the vote in Blackpool South, three times its national vote share.
'This is just the kind of Brexity, Northern constituency they were almost created to win.' 'They probably won't get a better chance.' As Scott Benton quits parliament, @AndrewMarr9 and pollster Joe Twyman discuss why Blackpool South is 'prime Reform UK territory.' https://t.co/ts3hu00tRe
Blackpool South is a big moment for @reformparty_uk: In the 2019 General Election their precursor, the Brexit Party, won 2.0% of the vote nation wide In Blackpool South they won 3 times that - 6.1% They didn't field a Wellingborough candidate in 2019 but got 13% in byelection https://t.co/3aXi5Cicgk https://t.co/EzSbuCjzn2
Former Conservative MP resigns leaving PM to face new by-election https://t.co/JV5eIdZ2xx
Tory MOScott Benton resigns meaning another by-election https://t.co/e5B0rhWnAf
β οΈ FORMER CONSERVATIVE LAWMAKER RESIGNS, SETTING UP FRESH TEST FOR UK PM SUNAK Full Story β https://t.co/BlNr08Cl6B A former member of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservatives said he would resign as a lawmaker after a standards watchdog recommended a 35-dayβ¦
Should be a relatively straightforward Labour pick up in Blackpool South - interest will be on the size of the swing and the Reform performance. With the rise they've seen in the polls over the last 6 months, Reform should be pushing the Tories for second place here. https://t.co/CQZeM8aObW
NEW: Scott Benton resigns triggering by-election in Blackpool South π¨ β All factors point to a Labour GAIN β Expect little Tory campaigning as per Wellingborough, Rochdale, Kingswood β Also a big test for Reform. In 2015, UKIP came third here on 17.3% https://t.co/UwimAdKYDm https://t.co/h2nufBHUPX
Former Tory MP resigns leaving PM to face new by-election https://t.co/FL9Zuw1Mab
Easy by-election win for Labour ahead in Blackpool South. Another one bites the dust with Tory now former MP Scott Benton jumping before he was pushed by voters in a recall petition after a 35-day suspension over a gambling industry scandal. Good riddance.