Election latest: 'Big problem' for Tories over election bets allegations (2024)

Pat McFadden, Labour's national campaign coordinator, has written to Rishi Sunak about the betting "scandal" currently unfolding in the Conservative Party.

It comes after one of the prime minister's aides - who is also an election candidate - admitted betting on the date of the election, a member of his protection detail was arrested over allegations of similar bets, and another Conservative candidate faces an investigation over similar claims.

Mr McFadden said: "Dear prime minister, I am writing to you regarding the scandal that is unfolding around your announcement of the general election on 22 May, and the growing number of individuals accused of making bets to try to profit from their inside knowledge of that announcement."

He added: "Can I ask you very simply why you think that a serving police officer should be suspended from his role, because of allegations that he made a bet based on inside information, while the two colleagues of yours who so far stand accused of the same offence - Craig Williams, your PPS, and Laura Saunders, a member of your CCHQ staff and partner of your campaigns director - are still being allowed to stand as Tory candidates in the election on 4 July?

"Surely you can understand that - yet again - this looks as though there is one rule for members of the Tory party, and another rule for everyone else, specifically on this occasion a serving police officer.

"If you can see how wrong that is, will you now at the very least remove your support for Mr Williams and Ms Saunders as Conservative election candidates?"

The Labour frontbencher adds: "I urge you to gain a sense of urgency and decency about this matter, and do what is necessary both to establish how wide this scandal goes, and take immediate action against all those implicated.

"It will speak volumes if you choose to stay silent and do nothing instead."

Tony Lee, the Conservative Party's head of campaigns, took a leave of absence last night, Sky News has been told.

This was around the same time the story first broke that his Conservative candidate wife - Laura Saunders - was facing being investigated by the Gambling Commission.

Mr Lee appears to have made his social media accounts private, but was announced as the party's campaign chief role back in 2022 at the Conservative Party conference.

He has also worked for Andy Street, who until recently was the Conservative mayor of the West Midlands.

Mr Lee described himself as "an experienced political campaigner with over 20 years experience in running election".

His past includes "successfully leading Andy Street's re-election campaign as mayor of the West Midlands in 2021 and numerous local election campaigns".

Sky deputy political editor Sam Coates has been analysing the developments around the potential investigations into bets placed on the date of the general election by Conservatives.

He says it is a "big, big, big problem" for the government.

"This is one of those stories that everybody can understand," Sam adds.

"First, it was his top parliamentary aide - called Craig Williams - who has admitted and apologised for putting a bet on the date of the election, three days before Rishi Sunak called that election.

"He's being investigated by the Gambling Commission.

"Now a second candidate who just so happens to be married to somebody in Conservative headquarters who deals with campaigning, they are also under investigation.

"And, a member of the prime minister's police protection squad, they were arrested earlier in the week.

"And it does look as if people immediately around the prime minister may have been looking to eke out some personal advantage, by having this bit of super secret information that the rest of us weren't privy to about the election date.

"An election date which I have to say is a gamble that, for everybody else in the Conservative Party, looks like it's gone wrong.

"But for those three people, it looked like they tried to get an upside, but they look like they might have been found out."

Our live poll tracker collates the results of opinion surveys carried out by all the main polling organisations - and allows you to see how the political parties are performing in the run-up to the general election.

It currently shows a drop in support in recent days for Labour and the Tories - with a jump for Reform and the Liberal Democrats.

Read more about the tracker here.

We've had an update from the Gambling Commission on what is happening with the Conservative Party.

The watchdog's statement does not go into massive detail - but it does tell us it is looking into allegations around a bet on the date of the election.

Rishi Sunak's decision to call a 4 July vote shocked many.

A spokesperson said: "The Gambling Commission regulates gambling in the interests of consumers and the wider public.

"Currently the commission is investigating the possibility of offences concerning the date of the election.

"This is an ongoing investigation, and the commission cannot provide any further details at this time."

Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor, has been speaking at an event with The Times this morning.

He is facing a tough campaign in his seat in Surrey.

Asked about his party's prospects, Mr Hunt says: "We are the underdogs - no question about it."

He adds that the government winning the election is "going to be very difficult" - and that "I don't think any of us pretend that's the most likely outcome".

But he believes his party still has a chance - and that people on the doorstep are still making up their minds.

Labour's Matthew Pennycook, the shadow housing minister, is speaking to Sky News on behalf of the party this morning.

Kay Burley asks him about the fact multiple Conservative candidates are facing potential Gambling Commission investigations over their conduct.

This includes the recent news that one of the candidates is married to the party's director of campaigning.

Mr Pennycook says: "I think it does seriously chip away at trust and confidence, in the government and in politics more widely.

"And we've had too much of that over the last 14 years.

"I sort of hesitate slightly, but this appears with each one of these new allegations to be looking like a pattern of cronyism, if you like, with people benefiting directly, potentially, from information that may have been passed on."

Mr Pennycook repeats the "pattern of cronyism" line again later in the interview.

He says he would be "angry" - and that "disappointment" is quite a strong enough word - to describe how he would feel if someone he knew placed a bet using private information.

We reported earlier that Laura Saunders, the Conservative candidate for Bristol North West, is facing an investigation by the Gambling Commission.

We've now got a bit more information.

It transpires that Ms Saunders is married to the Conservative Party's director of campaigning, Tony Lee.

Sky News has contacted Ms Saunders and the Conservatives for comment.

The party earlier confirmed it had been contacted by the Gambling Commission "about a small number of individuals".

Cabinet minister Michael Gove told Sky News: "I know that there are two people who are now subject to this process, I think, from the Gambling Commission."

The minister - who is not standing for reelection - says it is "deeply disturbing" that people may have been betting on the date of the election.

But, he says it is the "exception rather than the rule".

It comes after it emerged that a close protection officer for Rishi Sunak has been arrested and suspended over alleged bets about the timing of the election.

The PM's parliamentary aide, Craig Williams, is also facing an investigation after he bet on a July election date.

Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Jack Blanchard with their guide to the election day ahead.

This is day 29 of the campaign. Jack and Sam discuss all four main leaders facing an audience on primetime TV, who is missing from the Tories' party donors event, Bank of England interest rates and who the newspapers are going to endorse for No 10.

👉 Tap here to follow Politics at Jack and Sam's wherever you get your podcasts 👈

Email Jack and Sam: jackandsam@sky.uk

We reported earlier that the Conservative Party has been contacted by the Gambling Commission over "a small number" of individuals.

This follows reports thatCraig Williams, an aide of the prime minister, was facing a probe over allegedly gambling on the date of the election.

Sky News understands a second person - Laura Saunders, the Tory candidate for Bristol North West - is also one of those the watchdog is considering.

Speaking to Sky News this morning, Housing Secretary Michael Gove said he was aware of two people facing investigations.

This follows separate news yesterday that one of Mr Sunak's close protection officers was arrested and suspended over alleged bets on the election date.

Sky News has approached Ms Saunders for comment.

Also standing in Bristol North West:

• Caroline Gooch, Liberal Democrats;

• Darren Jones, Labour;

• Scarlett O'Connor, Reform UK;

• Mary Page, Green;

• Laura Saunders, Conservative;

• Ben Smith, SDP.