Fourth Tory official under investigation over election betting allegations

Lina Portman2 weeks ago

0 3 minutes read

Author, Helene Catt
Role, Political correspondent
June 23, 2024

Updated 1 hour ago

A fourth high-ranking Tory is being investigated by the Gambling Commission over bets allegedly placed on the date of the general election.

The Sunday Times reported that the party's head of data, Nick Mason, allegedly placed dozens of bets which the newspaper said could have resulted in winnings amounting to thousands of pounds.

A spokesperson for Mr Mason told the BBC it would not be appropriate to comment during an investigation, but he denied any wrongdoing.

Mr Mason, who is also a Conservative councilor in Herefordshire, has now taken leave from his role in the Conservative party, 11 days after election day on July 4.

The Conservative Party said it was “not authorized to discuss matters relating to” a Gambling Commission investigation.

The BBC previously reported that two Conservative candidates and another party official were also under investigation.

Laura Saunders and Craig Williams have confirmed they are under investigation by the Gambling Commission.

Ms Saunders, the party's candidate in Bristol North West, has worked for the Conservatives since 2015.

Ms Saunders' partner is Conservative campaign manager Tony Lee, who is also under investigation over an alleged bet. He took a leave of absence from his job.

Allegations of election day gambling were first made against one of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's closest aides, Mr Williams, who allegedly placed a £100 bet on July polling day, three days before the set date.

Legend, Nick Mason (pictured) has denied any wrongdoing after being investigated

Mr Williams, who was Conservative MP for Montgomery until the election was called and is standing again in the new Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr constituency, has previously apologized and said he had made a “huge error of judgement”.

Asked by the BBC, he refused to say whether he had placed a bet based on inside information.

Speaking about the allegations on Sunday's BBC show with Laura Kuenssberg, Home Secretary James Cleverly said the Gambling Commission was investigating and it was “right and appropriate that We let them do their job.”

Asked if any ministers had placed bets on the election timing, Mr Cleverly said: “Not to my knowledge.”

Following the latest allegation, a Conservative spokesperson said: “In accordance with instructions from the Gambling Commission, we are not permitted to discuss matters relating to an investigation with the subject or any other person. »

Last week, Mr Sunak said he had been “incredibly angry” upon learning of the allegations, vowing to “expel” anyone found guilty of breaking the Conservative Party’s gambling laws.

Mr Sunak announced July 4 as the date for the May 22 general election, taking much of Westminster by surprise.

If someone uses confidential information to gain an unfair advantage when betting, this could constitute a criminal offense under section 42 of the Gambling Act.

A spokesperson for the Gambling Commission confirmed to the BBC that it was “investigating the possibility of infringements relating to the election date”.

The Commission also said it could not provide further details about the investigation or who is being investigated because it is an ongoing process.

“We neither confirm nor deny the identities of the individuals involved in this investigation,” he added.

Labor and the Liberal Democrats have called on Mr Sunak to suspend those under investigation.

Labour's shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson called the allegations “quite shocking” and said there would be “real disgust” among voters.

Liberal Democrats deputy leader Daisy Cooper said the Prime Minister should launch a Cabinet Office investigation into the reports, which she called “a total scandal at the heart of the Conservative Party”.

“People have had enough of this sordidness. Day after day, hour after hour, the Conservative government gets further bogged down,” she said.

Housing Secretary Michael Gove condemned the latest reports and compared the controversy to Partygate during the Covid-19 crisis.

“It looks like a rule for them and a rule for us,” the conservative minister, who will not stand for re-election, told the Sunday Times.

It also emerged that a police officer working in the prime minister's close protection team had been arrested following allegations of betting on the election timetable.

The officer was first suspended by the Metropolitan Police and then arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

The individual has been released on bail pending further inquiries.

The Met was contacted by the Gambling Commission last Friday. He informed the force he was investigating alleged betting by a police officer from the Met's Royalty and Specialist Protection Command.