Election betting scandal deepens as Tory candidate and her party boss husband are probed by gambling watchdog
RISHI Sunak has today been rocked by a deepening gambling scandal that has forced one of his top campaign chiefs to quit.
It has emerged that a second Tory candidate was caught placing a bet on the prospect of an early July election.
The Gambling Commission is now probing wannabe MP Laura Saunders as well as her husband Tony Lee who is the Conservatives’ director of campaigning.
A party spokesman today announced that Mr Lee has taken a leave of absence following the revelations.
Cabinet Minister Michael Gove said: “Well, obviously it’s a very far from ideal situation when you’ve got people who’ve acknowledged that they behaved in this way, deeply regrettable.”
Labour and the Lib Dems both called for Ms Saunders to be suspended as a Conservative while the investigation was ongoing.
It is prohibited to use inside information to place a bet, and the Gambling Act makes it illegal to cheat with “attempted deception of interference”.
It is understood that a small circle of advisers knew Mr Sunak was planning on calling a snap election ahead of him announcing the date in May.
Ms Saunders is standing for the Tories in Bristol North West and has worked for the party since 2016.
She is the second Conservative candidate facing an investigation after Craig Williams, a trusted aide to the PM, also placed an £100 bet on an early election three days prior.
Meanwhile, one of Mr Sunak’s close protection police officers has been suspended and arrested for allegedly placing a bet on the election date.
The unnamed cop from the Met’s royalty and specialist protection command was taken into custody and bailed.
On Ms Saunders’ probe, Sir Keir Starmer said today: “This candidate should be suspended and it’s very telling that Rishi Sunak has not already done that.
“If it was one of my candidates they’d be gone and their feet not have touched the floor.”
Nigel Farage added: “It looks as though the corruption in that organisation (Tories) runs deeper than we thought.”
He joked he also “liked a bet” — before claiming his return to lead Reform was “the biggest bet of my life”.
A Conservative Party spokesman said: “We have been contacted by the Gambling Commission about a small number of individuals.
A Gambling Commission spokesman said: “As the Gambling Commission is an independent body, it wouldn’t be proper to comment further, until any process is concluded.”
“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.
“We are not confirming or denying the identity of any individuals involved in this investigation.”