The Tories are under pressure to suspend a second election candidate being investigated over bets placed on the date of the vote today, as it emerged she is marred to the party’s campaign director.
Laura Saunders, who is standing in Bristol North West, is the subject of an inquiry by the Gambling Commission over an alleged wager on Rishi Sunak going to the polls in July.
She is the second candidate to be investigated by the Commission, which is also looking into a bet placed by Craig Wiliiams, a close aide of the prime minister.
Today it emerged that Ms Saunders is marred to Tony Lee, who is also being investigated, according to the BBC. The Conservatives confirmed Mr Lee has taken a ‘leave of absence’ from his party role.
Communities Secretary Michael Gove admitted this morning that it would be ‘reprehensible’ to use inside information to bet on the General Election date, adding: ‘It doesn’t look great.’
Labour leader Keir Starmer said: ‘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 would not have touched the floor.’
On the Tory campaign battle bus in London, Mr Gove told broadcasters: ‘Obviously, it doesn’t look great. And, obviously, the conclusions lots of people are drawing are not at all great.
‘But I don’t know all the facts at the moment. I’d be loath to condemn without there being an investigation that’s been concluded.’
A Conservative spokesman said: ‘We have been contacted by the Gambling Commission about a small number of individuals.
‘As the Gambling Commission is an independent body, it wouldn’t be proper to comment further, until any process is concluded.’
Mr Williams is also being investigated after putting a £100 bet on the election being held in July, just days before the Prime Minister announced the July 4 vote. The 5-1 flutter would have netted him £500.
The issue with those with close connections to the PM placing a bet on the election date comes with the individual having possible inside information that could give them an advantage.
It has not been confirmed whether Ms Saunders had any inside information when allegedly placing the bet.
The use of confidential information to gain unfair advantage when betting may constitute a criminal offence of cheating under section 42 of the Gambling Act.
Those convicted face and unlimited fine or up to two years in jail.
The investigation regarding Ms Saunders also comes as a police officer in Mr Sunak’s close protection team has been suspended and arrested over alleged bets about the timing of the election, it was revealed on Wednesday.
The Metropolitan Police was contacted by the Gambling Commission last Friday and told the commission was investigating the activities of a member of Scotland Yard’s Royalty and Specialist Protection (RaSP) command.
The police constable was removed from operational duties with immediate effect.
A Met Police spokesperson said: ‘We can confirm that on Friday, 14 June, the Met were contacted by the Gambling Commission who informed us that they were investigating alleged bets made by a Police Constable from the Met’s Royalty and Specialist Protection Command, which were related to the timing of the General Election.
‘The matter was immediately referred to officers in the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards, who opened an investigation, and the officer was also removed from operational duties.
‘The officer was subsequently arrested on Monday 17 June on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was taken into custody and bailed pending further enquiries. The matter has also been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
‘The Gambling Commission continues to lead the investigation into the alleged betting offences, and our investigation is running in parallel to that.’
Mr Williams, who is standing for re-election as MP in Montgomeryshire, bet on the election being held in July just three days before the announcement was made, The Guardian first reported.
Meanwhile, the nation was surprised the election was going to be held in summer rather than autumn. Mr Williams has since apologised for a ‘huge error of judgement’.
The date and value of Ms Saunder’s alleged bet have not been revealed.