Conservatives are carrying out own betting inquiry – Rishi Sunak

The allegations of gambling on the election date first emerged earlier this month against Craig Williams – one of the prime minister’s closest aides, who reportedly placed a £100 bet on a July polling day three days before the date was named.

Mr Williams – who is standing for the Conservatives in Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr – told the BBC he had made a “huge error of judgement” but refused to say if he had placed a bet on the basis of inside information.

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

Laura Saunders, the Conservative candidate for Bristol North West and her partner Tony Lee, the Conservative director of campaigning, are also under investigation, as is Nick Mason, the party’s chief data officer.

Mr Mason’s spokesperson said he denied wrongdoing.

Speaking to reporters in Edinburgh, Mr Sunak said he didn’t have the details of the Gambling Commission’s investigation but that his party was conducting its own “internal inquiries”.

He added he would “act on an relevant findings” and pass on information to the commission.

He also confirmed that he was not a under investigation himself and that he had never placed a bet on politics whilst an MP.

Earlier in the day, Mr Ellwood, a Conservative candidate in Bournemouth East, said: “This betting saga has been deeply unhelpful, self-inflicted distraction triggered by a few individuals. In what world they thought this was acceptable is beyond belief.”

Asked if Mr Sunak should withdraw Conservative support from Mr Williams and Ms Saunders, Mr Ellwood said: “Given the scale of this as we see now, and the potential for this story to continue to eclipse, to overshadow the election, I would now agree.

“The public want to see clear robust action now.”

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: “I do think the Conservative Party could do far more.

“It feels to me like, as has been so often the case during this Parliament, they seem to be in it for themselves, not for the public service.”