British Prime Minister's Conservative Party official Rishi Sunak is being investigated by the British Gambling Commission on allegations that he bet on the date of the general election before it was announced, reported the “Sunday Times”, cited by Reuters and BTA.
The British Gambling Commission is reportedly already investigating two Conservative candidates and a party campaign director over betting on the date of the July 4 election.
The growing scandal has further damaged Sunak's attempts to close the gap with the opposition Labor Party, which is far ahead in polls ahead of the election.
„Sunday Times” reported that it was Nick Mason, the Conservative Party's chief data officer.
The paper quoted a spokesman for Mason as saying he denies any wrongdoing.
„Sunday Times” cites a statement from the Conservative Party that Mason has taken a leave of absence.
Sunak said Thursday that he was "incredibly angry" in connection with the accusations against his fellow party members and pointed out that this is a "really serious matter".
British Housing Minister Michael Gove compared the scandal involving fraudulent bets by Conservative Party officials to "Partygate", which led to the resignation of Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2022, AFP reported, cited by BTA.
„There seems to be a rule for them and a rule for us... That is the thing that could potentially do the most damage,”, Mr Gove said in an interview with The Times. Gove will not stand in the upcoming election after 14 years as an MP. “It was damaging during the Pratygate era, it is still damaging today,” Gove added.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigned in 2022 following revelations that parties were held at his Downing Street residence at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, when Britons were under strict restrictions.
Several conservative candidates and officials are in the sights of the police and gambling commission, suspected of using their proximity to Rishi Sunak to bet on the date he will call the election.
Political betting of all kinds is permitted in the UK, but insider betting is an offence.
„If someone is found to have broken the rules, they should not only be held accountable, but expelled from the Conservative Party,”, assured Sunak.
Gove accused those involved in the scandal, which erupted a few days before the election, of "sucking the oxygen out of the campaign".
„A few individuals end up creating an atmosphere that is incredibly damaging to the party,”, he added, again comparing the betting affair to “Partygate”. “This is both bad in itself and destructive to the efforts of all those who are currently fighting hard for the Conservative vote.“