Big Brother star Harry Symonds’ husband is ex-MP with Reform UK and Restore Britain links
The pair married in 2021, two years before Benton became embroiled in a parliamentary lobbying scandal
By Aaron Sugg
Harry Symonds was one of 16 housemates who entered the 2026 Big Brother house yesterday (13 September) and has already sparked controversy.
The fitness coach from Croydon was the second civilian to enter the house, becoming the first publicly gay member of the season to step foot on the reality TV show.
The 30-year-old introduced himself as a former police officer and a gay Christian. He also revealed that he is a Crystal Palace football fan.
Harry Symonds spouse controversy
As he entered the house, viewers discovered that he is the spouse of former Conservative Member of Parliament Scott Benton, who was MP for Blackpool South from the 2019 general election until his resignation in March 2024.
The pair married in 2021, two years before Benton became embroiled in a parliamentary lobbying scandal after undercover reporters from The Times caught him offering to lobby ministers and influence parliamentary questions on behalf of gambling investors.
According to reports, the Commons Standards Committee concluded that Benton had committed an “extremely serious breach” of parliamentary rules and recommended a 35-day suspension.
Same-sex marriage
Before then, Benton came under fire for campaigning to scrap the Human Rights Act, the same legislation that protects him as an LGBTQ+ person. He wanted it rewritten as part of wider reforms to the immigration and asylum system.
He argued that replacing the HRA with a “British Bill of Rights” would not remove the rights and protections enjoyed by British people, including those relating to same-sex marriage.
Restore Britain and Reform UK
Benton later returned to politics in 2026 after joining Restore Britain, the right-wing party founded by former Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe, who, similarly to his previous constituents, has refused to fly the Progress Pride flag on public buildings and claimed that it promotes gender identity over biological reality.
He became campaign manager for Restore Britain during the Makerfield by-election campaign, where the party fielded a candidate against Labour and Reform UK. Restore Britain’s candidate finished third, while Labour’s Andy Burnham won the seat.
Reports suggest that Benton had previously sought a political future with Nigel Farage‘s Reform UK, but was allegedly not accepted.