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The Conservative party is desperate to contain a widening gambling scandal amid fears more party officials may have placed bets on the date of the general election.
The Gambling Commission is reportedly investigating the four for allegedly exploiting bookmakers.
The Conservative Party’s campaign manager, Tony Lee, was forced to take leave after both he and his wife, parliamentary candidate Laura Sanders, were named as two of the people targeted.
Sanders, through his lawyer, said he would “cooperate with the Gambling Commission” but claimed the media reports had invaded his privacy.
A Conservative spokesman told the BBC: “A small number of individuals have been contacted by the Gambling Commission.”
Conservative campaign headquarters (CCHQ) officials are not aware of any other individuals suspected of being involved, despite evidence that the number of polling day bets increased sharply in the 24 hours in July before Mr Sunak announced the election date.
However, the possibility of further cases occurring cannot be completely ruled out. I I understand.
A source close to CCHQ suggested there could be more people involved in the scandal, saying: “This is not a good reputation and judging by their reaction we feel there could be more involved.”
Senior CCHQ officials are said to be “frustrated” that the furore has drowned out the party’s message at a crucial time, just two weeks before polling day.
One former minister and current candidate called those who placed the bets “idiots”, while another said it was “ridiculous”.
Meanwhile, a Conservative strategist said the row was “just a further stench”, adding: “I don’t think this is going to get any public attention but it’s adding to the stench.”
Cabinet minister Michael Gove acknowledged the situation was “not good” for the Conservative Party.
Meanwhile, former party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: News Agent In the podcast, he called those involved “incredibly stupid and greedy,” adding that their behavior was “unacceptable and whatever happens to them, it’s not tough enough for me.”
News of the investigation into Sanders, his Bristol North West constituency, emerged after one of the Prime Minister’s bodyguards was arrested and it was revealed that the Gambling Commission was investigating Mr Sunak’s parliamentary aide, Craig Williams, over gambling allegations.
One Conservative activist also said he had had to inform party leaders of the rules on political gambling this week after they suggested he bet on seats they were campaigning in.
The loss of his campaign manager is a blow, but lawmakers who worked closely with Lee are stepping up and continuing their work. I They said.
Labour and the Liberal Democrats have called on the Conservatives to suspend both Sanders and Williams.
Sir Keir Starmer said: “If it had been one of my candidates they would have been gone by now, their feet would never have touched the ground.”
Labour’s election coordinator, Pat McFadden, wrote to the Prime Minister calling for the candidates to be suspended and questioning “the extent of this scandal”.
He said: “If some of your most senior colleagues felt free to exploit inside information about the election to profit from it, you must ask how many others obtained that same information in advance and placed bets on their own, or through friends and family.”
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