Rishi Sunak's denial
Rishi Sunak stated that he is not aware of any other Tory candidates being investigated for election bets, emphasizing that he and his family have not engaged in such activities as he is running in the election. Sunak also mentioned that he has never bet on politics, despite MPs being permitted to do so as long as they are not cheating.
Expanding investigation
The scandal deepened as the Gambling Commission widened its inquiries to explore whether party insiders utilized third parties to place bets. The watchdog has identified more individuals of interest, including officials Tony Lee and Nick Mason, along with candidates Craig Williams and Laura Saunders, who are still actively participating in the election campaign.
Internal inquiries
Although facing criticism for not suspending the candidates under investigation, Sunak expressed that the party will take action if their internal inquiries confirm any wrongdoing. Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris rejected calls to withdraw the party whip from the individuals under investigation, accusing Labour of trying to influence the independent Gambling Commission's investigation.
Labour's response
Labour has been vocal in calling for transparency, with past incidents like the one involving Sir Lindsay Hoyle raising concerns about potential political pressure on independent bodies. The ongoing investigation and reactions from both parties highlight the tension surrounding the election betting scandal.
