Sunak under pressure to suspend Tory candidates in election betting dispute

Rishi Sunak is under increasing pressure to suspend Tory candidates involved in an election betting scandal.

Two Conservative candidates – Craig Williams and Laura Saunders – are being investigated by the Gambling Commission in connection with allegations of bets placed in connection with the July 4 general election.

A police officer who was part of Sunak’s security team has been arrested as part of an investigation into alleged betting on the timing of the general election.

Conservative insiders fear that more names could emerge in the contest, and Welsh Minister David TC Davies could not rule out that other people associated with the Conservative Party could also be drawn into the gambling regulator’s investigation.

Asked whether the Conservative Party expected more names to emerge in connection with the Gambling Commission’s investigation, Mr Davies told Sky News on Friday: “I have absolutely no idea, none at all, the news about those two was a complete surprise to me.”

The Conservative candidate for Monmouthshire said he had not been informed in advance of the date of the general election, but acknowledged that rumours were already circulating on the morning the Prime Minister publicly announced the date.

He also said that he personally had not placed any bets related to the election date.

“I would just like to state that I certainly did not bet myself. I have not bet on anything for many years. I probably did not know the election was coming until this morning. I had an inkling but even then I was not entirely sure and I have no idea who – if anyone – was betting and what further investigations are underway,” Mr Davies said.

He also pointed out that the contest could damage the reputation of the Conservative Party.

Asked if he was concerned about the Tory Party’s reputation on issues of ethics and integrity, particularly given the impact of the ‘Partygate’ scandal, Mr Davies told BBC Radio 4: Today Program: “Of course I am.”

The Prime Minister told the audience at yesterday’s leaders’ debate that he was “incredibly angry” but stopped short of saying he would suspend candidates under investigation.

During an appearance on the BBC Question timeSpeaking on The Sun special, Sunak said: “I was incredibly angry – incredibly angry – when I heard about these allegations.

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“It is a really serious matter. It is right that they are properly investigated by the relevant law enforcement authorities, including … a criminal investigation by the police.”

“I want to make it very clear that anyone who violates the rules must be punished to the full extent of the law.”

Asked about calls for Mr Williams and Ms Saunders to be suspended, he added: “I can tell you that anyone who breaks the rules will not only face the full consequences of the law, but I will also ensure that they are expelled from the Conservative Party.”

While the Conservative Party’s election campaign is stalled by the electoral farce, Labour is now focusing more on the National Health Service (NHS) and industry.

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner said Labour’s plans for the NHS and social care staff would save money, “not to mention be cost neutral”.

Ms Rayner told BBC Radio 4 Today Programme: “I actually think that with this staffing plan – and I’ve worked in social care before, and I’ve also spent years as an organiser representing Unison members who worked in our NHS – we could actually save money if we could make these reforms.”

At the same appearance, Ms Rayner declined to comment on whether a Labour government would re-approve the Rosebank oilfield if the High Court ruled that the original decision was unlawful.

She told the broadcaster: “I’m not going to make any assumptions, but what we have said and laid out is that oil and gas will be part of the energy mix for the next three decades. These are the practical aspects that we are facing.

“But we cannot rely on oil and gas in the future. We have to switch to renewable energies to ensure our energy security. Because we are at the mercy of people like Russian President Vladimir Putin, and that is why energy prices have gone through the roof.”

Sir Keir Starmer will campaign north of the border promising that Labour’s industrial strategy will create 69,000 jobs in Scotland.

During a company visit with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, who released his party’s manifesto earlier this week, Starmer will vow to “put behind us an era of economic turmoil under the Tories and the SNP”.

Elsewhere, the Liberal Democrats are calling for urgent reforms to end the “appalling situation” in NHS dentistry.

The party has announced a £750 million-a-year dental rescue plan aimed at giving more patients access to care, ensuring free check-ups for children and preventing the “exodus” of NHS dentists.

Election 2024

Rishi Sunak, Sir Keir Starmer and other party leaders are on the campaign trail, and IThe election live blog is the place to go for everything related to the federal election.

All major parties have published their election manifestos: read I‘S Breakdown of all the promises made by the Tories, Greens, Labour, Liberal Democrats and Reform UK.

I has called on parties to commit to his ‘Save Britain’s Rivers’ manifesto to improve our waterways. The Liberal Democrats were the first to back the campaign, followed by the Greens. Keir Starmer called the campaign ‘really important’ but did not fully support it.