Home Secretary admits betting scandal is ‘frustrating’ but denies PM should be suspended…

23 June 2024, 10:44

While the Home Secretary acknowledged that the ongoing betting scandal was “frustrating”, he rejected calls for Rishi Sunak to suspend those under investigation.

A number of people with links to the Conservative Party or 10 Downing Street are said to have placed bets on the timing of the July 4 election before Mr Sunak announced it.

This includes Nick Mason, the Conservative Party’s chief data protection officer, who, according to the Sunday Times, is being investigated for betting on election day.

LBC has learned that Mason has been placed on leave from his role while the case is investigated by the Gambling Commission.

“It’s obviously frustrating when you have conversations about inappropriate behaviour,” James Cleverly told LBC’s “Sunday with Lewis Goodall.”

However, he rejected calls for the suspension of those being investigated against him. He said it was “right” to wait for the outcome of the investigation.

“People in the campaigns should be focused on the campaigns, they should be focused solely on carrying out these tasks,” Mr Cleverly continued.

Conservative candidate Laura Saunders, who is among those under investigation, said she would “work with the Gambling Commission”.

She is the wife of Conservative campaign manager Tony Lee, who took a leave of absence during the investigation into the betting scandal.

Read more: Tory candidate under investigation for alleged election date bet is ‘married to Conservative campaign manager’

Read more: Gove calls election betting a ‘betrayal of the Prime Minister’s trust’ as watchdog investigates second Tory candidate

Previously, one of the Prime Minister’s police protectors had been arrested and it had previously been revealed that a Gambling Commission investigation had taken place into his parliamentary adviser Craig Williams.

Williams has apologized for his “bet” on the election.

Speaking to LBC’s Nick Ferrari on Breakfast earlier this week, Housing Secretary Michael Gove said the investigations were “beyond embarrassing” for the Conservative Party.

Meanwhile, he told the Sunday Times that the scandal was as damaging to the Tories as the Partygate affair.

When asked what light the investigations shed on the parties, Gove told Nick Ferrari: “It is more than embarrassing, it is wrong – it is also a matter of principle.”

“Not only is this a breach of trust in the Prime Minister, which is very bad, it also means that other players lose out because of inside information and the system is not working fairly.”

He added: “It is more than bad to use such information to gain an advantage.”

A Conservative spokesman said of the investigation: “We have been contacted by the Gambling Commission about a small number of individuals.

“As the Gambling Commission is an independent body, it would not be appropriate to comment further until the process is completed.