Rishi Sunak FINALLY suspends two Tory candidates accused of betting on election date

Rishi Sunak has finally requested the suspension of two Tory candidates today after they were accused of betting on the election date.

Craig Williams and Laura Saunders are no longer “supported” by the party “due to ongoing internal investigations”.

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

“We have asked the Gambling Commission whether this decision will not affect the investigations it is conducting, which are rightly independent and ongoing.”

The move came after Northern Ireland Secretary Steve Baker broke ranks and criticised the Prime Minister’s response, saying she would crack down on what she called “offensive” behaviour.

Mr Williams, a former parliamentary adviser to Mr Sunak and candidate in Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr, has admitted he made a “huge error of judgement” when he placed “a bet” on the election date.

Laura Saunders is the candidate in north-west Bristol and the wife of the party’s campaign manager, Tony Lee.

With nominations closed, Mr Williams and Ms Saunders are both still on the ballot.

The party’s data protection officer, Nick Mason, is also under investigation; he denies any wrongdoing.

Mr Sunak had insisted only yesterday that it was “right” to await the outcome of investigations by the Gambling Commission, the police and the Conservative Party itself.

Kier Starmer quipped: “Why didn’t this happen a week ago?”

The developments came to light after Scotland Yard flatly denied being the source of leaks about betting investigations that threaten to plunge the Conservative election campaign into further turmoil.

In addition to the Tory officials, one of Sunak’s bodyguards was also arrested on suspicion of abuse of office. He is accused of placing bets on the timing of the election. The police expect further arrests.

Using confidential information to gain an unfair advantage when betting may constitute an offence of cheating under Section 42 of the Gambling Act.

Those convicted face an unlimited fine or a prison sentence of up to two years.

Mr Sunak had previously said he was “incredibly angry” about the allegations and vowed to “kick out” anyone found to have breached trust.

Speaking on ITV’s Peston programme yesterday, Baker said: “I would call them and ask, ‘Have you done it?’ And if they have done it, they will be suspended.”

“But the Prime Minister would have to answer why he didn’t do it. I have no inside information as to why the Prime Minister didn’t do it.”

Baker joined other Conservatives such as former Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood in calling for the suspension of the four Tories accused of betting on the election date.

The Tories have tried to turn to the issue of immigration in order to weaken Labour’s continued large lead in the polls.

Home Secretary James Cleverly and his Labour colleague Yvette Cooper faced off in a debate on immigration on LBC.

Labour is focused on tackling knife crime, with Keir Starmer saying that reducing such crimes will be a “moral mission” when he moves into 10 Downing Street.

The party has promised a five-step plan to tackle the problem, including guaranteed sentences for young people with knives, and Sir Keir has pledged to chair an annual summit to track progress towards his goal of halving knife crime within a decade.

Sir Ed Davey will launch the Liberal Democrats’ six-page mini-manifesto on care, highlighting commitments already made in the party’s main policy document.

The Liberal Democrats have already put care “at the heart” of their election campaign and the issue is close to Sir Ed’s heart, having cared for his mother as a teenager and, more recently, his disabled son.

Sir Ed said: “We are putting forward a bold and ambitious plan to ensure everyone gets the support they need – the people who need care, the amazing carers who provide it and the unpaid carers who provide that support too.”