The details of the petition to decide whether Scott Benton, the MP for Blackpool South should lose his seat as an MP, and a by-election held to decide who would be the MP for that Constituency, have been released.

The petition has started because Scott Benton, MP has been suspended from sitting in the House of Commons for a period of 35 days for breaching the code of conduct for MPs.

Here are the details of the petition signing period:

From 8.00am on Tuesday 12 March 2024 until 5.00pm on Monday 22 April 2024

Here are the designated signing places:

• The Salvation Army, Raikes Parade, Blackpool FY1 4EL
• Blackpool Sports Centre, West Park Drive, Blackpool FY3 9HQ
• Revoe Library, Revoe Street, Blackpool FY1 5HN
• Molyneux Community Centre, Molyneux Drive, Blackpool FY4 3JJ
• The Solaris Centre, New South Promenade, Blackpool FY4 1RW
• Bostonway Community Centre, Bostonway, Blackpool FY4 4YQ
• Tarnside Community Centre, Tarnside (off Langdale Road), Blackpool FY4 4RD
• Aysgarth Community Centre, Aysgarth Court (off Whernside, Highfield Road), Blackpool FY4 5LX

The petition will be available for signing within the petition signing period:

• Mondays 9.00am to 5.00pm*
• Tuesdays 8.00am to 5.00pm
• Wednesdays 9.00am to 5.00pm
• Thursdays 9.00am to 8.00.pm
• Fridays 9.00am to 5.00pm*

* Please note: the petition will be closed due to bank holidays held on Friday 29 March 2024 and Monday 1 April 2024.

Eligibility to sign the recall petition:

• A person is eligible to sign the petition if they are a Registered Parliamentary Elector for the Blackpool South Constituency and aged 18 or over (or the date of their 18th birthday is before the end of the signing period).
• New applications to sign the petition by post must be received by the Electoral Registration Office no later than 5.00pm on Friday 5 April 2024.
• New applications to sign the petition by proxy must be received by the Electoral Registration Office no later than 5.00pm on Friday 12 April 2024.

Publication of 10% threshold:

After receiving the Speaker’s notice under Section 5 of the Recall of MPs Act 2015. The Petition Officer herewith gives public notice of:

(a) the number of persons who are entitled to sign the petition as 56,288

(b) the number of persons who would need to sign the petition for the petition to be successful in accordance with Section 14 of the Recall of MPs Act 2015(a) (determination of whether recall petition is successful) is 5,629 *

* this information will be republished on the first day of the signing period incorporating any additions or deletions given effect to by a notice of alteration.

These details have been issued by:

Neil Jack  (Petition Officer)

Blackpool Council

Number One  Bickerstaffe Square

Talbot Road

Blackpool   FY1 3AH