Minister admits bets on election date as leaders prepare for final TV debate

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has admitted placing a successful bet on the election date a month before the prime minister announced it.

The cabinet minister, who is stepping down at the upcoming election, said he had also placed two bets that did not pay off in March.

While he is not under investigation by the Gambling Commission, which is focused on bets placed in the days before the May 22 announcement, Jack is the highest-profile figure to be caught up in the growing scandal.

Last night, BBC News reported that up to 15 Conservative candidates and officials are being looking into for alleged betting.

They include Craig Williams and Laura Saunders, who were suspended as candidates yesterday; Welsh Parliament politician Russell George; director of campaigning Tony Lee; and chief data officer Nick Mason.

Lee and Mason have both taken leaves of absence from their roles.

Yesterday, Labour also suspended a candidate who placed a bet backing his Conservative rival to win his seat. Kevin Craig said he had made a ‘huge error of judgment’.

The gambling row is likely to come up at tonight’s BBC debate between Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer, the last before the election is held a week tomorrow.