Election news: Tories withdraw support for candidates involved in election date betting scandal | Politics news

In the latest twist in the Conservative betting scandal, the party has withdrawn its support from the two candidates involved.

A Conservative Party spokesman said: “Based on ongoing internal investigations, we have concluded that we can no longer support Craig Williams and Laura Saunders as candidates in the upcoming general election.”

“We have asked the Gambling Commission that this decision does not affect the investigations it is conducting, as these are rightly independent and ongoing.”

Sky News has contacted Mr Williams and Ms Saunders for comment.

The revelations of recent weeks have put the Prime Minister under pressure to take action.

He had previously stated that he could not do this without hindering the Gambling Commission’s investigations.

This position now seems to have changed.

Among those urging Sunak to act were other Conservatives: Sir Robert Buckland, a former justice minister, Tobias Ellwood, a former defence minister, Steve Baker, a current Northern Ireland minister, and Baroness Ruth Davidson, a former leader of the Scottish Conservatives.

The party has also launched its own investigations.