Candidates lose support from the Tories due to a bet controversy.
Two candidates who are being investigated for allegedly placing bets on the general election date have lost the backing of the Conservative party.
The Gambling Commission is investigating both Craig Williams, the candidate for Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr, and Laura Saunders, the candidate for Bristol North West. The two will continue run as Conservative party candidates, but as a result of this decision, they will become independent candidates in the event of an election, pending the outcome of an investigation. Mr. Williams had previously issued an apology, claiming to have committed He declined to comment when questioned by the BBC about whether or not he bet using insider knowledge.
Ms. Saunders's representative stated she had nothing further to say and that she would be assisting the Gambling Commission. "We have concluded that we can no longer support Craig Williams or Laura Saunders as parliamentary candidates at the forthcoming general election," a spokesman for the Conservative Party stated, citing continuing internal investigations. "We have checked with the Gambling Commission that this decision does not compromise the investigation that they are conducting, which is rightly independent and ongoing." In response to the announcement that the candidates' support had been withdrawn, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer questioned, "Why didn't that happen a week ago?"
Daisy Cooper, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, stated: "This should have happened immediately when these scandalous revelations emerged, but instead Rishi Sunak has dithered and delayed." The BBC was previously informed by two individuals that the party board had urgent talks over how to address the dispute. In response to the accusations, Mr. Sunak expressed his "extreme anger" and denied knowing of any other contenders. Following news that the Gambling Commission was looking into them, two Conservative employees also took leave from their jobs. A policeman tasked with keeping an eye on Mr. Sunak has been taken into custody on allegations of official wrongdoing.
The Gambling Commission is reportedly thinking about whether additional police officers should be engaged, according to the BBC. Reports that the Metropolitan Police disclosed the identities of individuals under investigation for possible bets on election day have been refuted.
