Rishi Sunak has been rocked by an election betting scandal after a Conservative candidate and her husband are investigated over a bet relating to the timing of the general election.
Tory candidate for Bristol North West Laura Saunders and the party’s director of campaigning Tony Lee are currently being looked into by the Gambling Commission.
The prime minister is now facing urgent calls to suspend the probed party members after Sir Keir Starmer attacked Mr Sunak for failing to do so.
Other parties like Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper labelled the situation an “utter disgrace” and Labour’s campaign co-ordinator Pat McFadden urged the PM to withdraw support from candidates immediately.
The Tory couple are the latest figures to face gambling allegations after Craig Williams apologised over betting on the date of the general election.
It comes as a police officer in Mr Sunak’s close protection team was arrested and suspended over alleged bets about the timing of the general election.
George Osborne: Starmer cannot ‘assume’ he’ll get two terms in Downing Street
The former chancellor has said that Sir Keir Starmer cannot “assume” he will have two terms as prime minister if he wins a huge majority on July 4.
Mr Osborne added the Labour leader will have to work to “justify” a landslide win.
He added: “I don’t think Starmer can assume that ‘I’m in now for a couple of terms if I get this huge, historic majority.
But I don’t still see any of the kind of enthusiasm and endorsement of a Labour plan for government that I think you’d need to cement right now a long period of Labour government.
“They’re going to have to do the work after the election to justify the very big majority that they look likely to win.”
Veteran Tory: Gambling probe won’t affect election campaign
Veteran Conservative politician Sir Charles Walker has said the Tory betting scandal will not affect the general election result.
Mr Walker, who is not standing as a candidate, is convinces the Gambling Commission’s investigation will not challenge the campaign.
He said: “Nobody is going to change their vote off the back of this.”
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Farage says Tories ‘more corrupt than worst critics imagined’ amid Tory betting scandal
Nigel Farage has joined growing attacks over the election date gambling allegations engulfing the Conservative party.
The Reform UK leader blasted: “From all the news that’s breaking the day, it looks like the Conservative party is more corrupt than even its worst critics could have imagined. They are literally stealing the lightbulbs on the way out the door. This is another shocking scandal.”
Scottish Conservative leader: ‘Tory betting scandal candidates should be disowned’
Douglass Ross has said that the Tory candidates facing betting scandal investigations should be disowned by the party if found guilty.
The Scottish Conservative leader said: “The investigation has been set up to look at these allegations, and if anyone is guilty of using [information] that they were privy to, to place bets, to financially benefit from that, it is completely unacceptable, it is completely wrong and they should no longer have the support.
“But there is an independent process and I think it’s right that due process is allowed to continue.”
Greens: Tories have shifted towards ‘right-wing extremism’
Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie has accused the Conservative party of moving closer towards “right-wing extremism”.
At the launch of his party’s manifesto in Edinburgh, Mr Harvie claimed a lurch to the “far right” is “inevitable” after polling day.
Mr Harvie said: “In the UK, it seems that a realignment along the far-right looks like an inevitable consequence of this election.
“Alongside the growth of online radicalism and far-right conspiracy platforms masquerading as news outlets, this is a chilling threat to democracy.
“Even if it ends up wiping them out, the truth is that the Conservative Party itself has helped to create this.
“Since Brexit, they’ve shifted ever further toward right-wing extremism and their culture war against vulnerable groups has been one of the ugliest expressions of Tory politics in recent years.”
Former Green party leader slams Tories over ‘sickening’ migrants’ attack ad
Former Green party leader Caroline Lucas has crticised the Conservatives over an ad attacking Labour over small boat crossings.
Ms Lucas said that the ad was “disgusting” adding: “Imagine the mindset that made this. People are dying. Afraid. Exploited and desperate.
“The Tories now chasing Reform to the very hard right and it’s sickening. Just when you think they couldn’t sink any lower.”
