2024 United Kingdom general election betting scandal

During the 2024 general election campaign, allegations were made that illicit bets were placed by political party members and police officers, some of whom may have had insider knowledge of the date of the general election before Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister at the time, publicly announced when it would be held.

Craig Williams, whose £100 bet on the election date began the scandal

The allegations started with a report in The Guardian saying that Conservative candidate and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, Craig Williams, had placed a £100 bet on 19 May 2024 that the election would be in July, three days before Sunak announced the general election to the public. In response, the Gambling Commission opened an inquiry into alleged betting offences relating to the day of the election. Later, further allegations, or admissions of political betting, were made involving police officers, Conservative members, a Labour member, and a Liberal Democrat member.

Background

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On 12 June 2024, The Guardian reported that a Conservative candidate in the election and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, Craig Williams, had put a £100 bet on a July election with Ladbrokes in a branch in his constituency of Montgomeryshire on 19 May, three days before Rishi Sunak announced the election to the public on the 22nd.[1][2] He apologised for the bet, calling it "a huge error of judgment"; both Williams and Sunak declined to answer when asked if Williams had inside information.[3]

Inquiry

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In response to the initial report on Craig Williams's bet, the Gambling Commission opened an inquiry into alleged betting offences relating to the day of the election.

The Metropolitan Police was contacted by the Gambling Commission on 14 June 2024 concerning this inquiry, informing it that it was investigating alleged bets that were made by a police constable from the force's Royalty and Specialist Protection Command. The officer was initially suspended, then on 17 June arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, taken into custody and bailed pending further inquiries.[4][5]

On 19 June, BBC News reported that the Conservative Party's director of campaigning, Tony Lee, is being investigated by the Gambling Commission over an alleged bet related to the date of the election.[6][7] Lee's wife, Laura Saunders, the Conservative candidate for Bristol North West, is also being investigated in relation to bets on the date of the election.[8]

On 22 June, The Sunday Times reported that the Conservative Party's chief data officer, Nick Mason, had allegedly placed 'dozens' of bets over an unspecified period, which would have amounted to thousands of pounds of winnings.[9]

On 23 June, Chris Mason, of the BBC, was told that more unnamed people linked to the Conservative Party were being investigated by the Gambling Commission.[10] On 24 June Sunak said that he was "not aware of any other" Conservative candidates being investigated by the Gambling Commission.[11] The Times reported that the investigation was being widened to 100s of suspicious bets.[12]

According to The Telegraph, a source close to the Cabinet Office believed the "leaks" of who was being investigated originated with the Metropolitan Police.[13] The Met denied this.[14]

On 25 June, The Telegraph reported that the Gambling Commission is also investigating five other police officers in relation to allegations of placing bets on the election date.[13] The Met subsequently confirmed that the Gambling Commission is investigating the officers.[15] Later, on 27 June, the Met said that the number of police officers under investigation had risen to "at least seven".[16][17]

Subsequently, Alister Jack, the Secretary of State for Scotland, who had previously claimed to have won £2,100 by betting on the date of the election, then dismissed the comment as a joke and issued a statement in which he said he had not in fact placed any bet on the election.[18] He did later admit to placing bets on the date of the election but denied doing anything wrong.[19] In addition, the Conservative Party suspended Craig Williams and Laura Saunders as candidates "as a result of ongoing internal inquiries".[20]

Later that same day, Labour suspended Kevin Craig, their candidate for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, after the Gambling Commission launched an unrelated investigation into him for placing a bet on himself losing in his constituency.[21]

On 26 June, The Sun reported that Sir Philip Davies, the Conservative candidate for Shipley allegedly placed an £8,000 bet on whether he would lose his seat at the election, which has a majority of 6,242.[22]

On 28 June, it was reported that Sunak's Chief of Staff, Liam Booth-Smith, was being interviewed by the Gambling Commission in relation to bets placed on the date of the election, in order to provide information as to who may have known when the date of the election would be.[23]

In August 2024, the Metropolitan Police announced that they would not charge any of the political figures involved in the scandal for misconduct in public office. In a statement, the Met said that people involved could still be charged under the Gambling Act.[24]

Devolved politics

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On 25 June, The Guardian reported that Russell George, the Conservative Senedd member for Montgomeryshire, was reported to have been informed by the Gambling Commission inquiry that he was being investigated after he had allegedly bet on the date of the election. He also stepped back from the Welsh Shadow Cabinet.[25]

On 26 June, Alex Cole-Hamilton, the leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, admitted he placed bets on Scottish Liberal Democrat election candidates, but said he did not place bets on the date of the election itself.[26]

People suspected to be involved in the scandal

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As of August 2024, people suspected to be involved in the scandal include former Conservative MPs Craig Williams, Alister Jack, and Philip Davies as well as Conservative director of campaigning Tony Lee, his wife Laura Saunders, Conservative chief data officer Nick Mason, Rishi Sunak's former chief of staff Liam Booth-Smith, Conservative Senedd member Russell George, and seven unnamed officers of the Metropolitan Police as well as a member of Sunak's security team.[27]

Reaction

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Foreign Secretary David Cameron condemned Williams for making the bet, saying it was a "very foolish decision".[28] Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, who stood down as an MP at the election, thought that the scandal was as damaging as Partygate for the Conservative Party.[29][30] Sunak said on 20 June that he was "incredibly angry to learn of these allegations" and that "it's right that they're being investigated properly by the relevant law enforcement authorities".[31][32]

Sunak and the Conservative Party faced criticism from Labour and Liberal Democrat leaders Starmer and Davey after the scandal came to light.[33][34] Davey, whilst admitting that he had bet on the outcome of elections, also called for a review of gambling laws.[35]

References

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  1. ^ Crerar, Pippa (12 June 2024). "Rishi Sunak aide placed bet on election date days before announcement". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  2. ^ Smith, Rory (28 June 2024). "Why Britain's Murky Election Betting Scandal Is Causing Outrage". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  3. ^ Martin, Daniel. "Sunak refuses to say whether aide who bet on election date knew it would be in July". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 14 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  4. ^ Mason, Chris (19 June 2024). "Rishi Sunak's protection officer arrested over alleged bets". BBC News. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  5. ^ "What is the UK election betting scandal all about?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  6. ^ Mason, Chris; Kuenssberg, Laura (20 June 2024). "Tory campaign official Tony Lee looked into over alleged bet". BBC News. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Britain's embattled ruling party roiled by election-related gambling scandal". CNN. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  8. ^ Crerar, Pippa; Weaver, Matthew (20 June 2024). "Gambling watchdog looks into second Tory candidate over alleged election bet". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  9. ^ Yorke, Harry; Wheeler, Caroline; Gabriel, Pogrund (23 June 2024). "Top Tory under investigation for alleged election betting". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  10. ^ Mason, Chris (23 June 2024). "More people investigated over general election bet allegations". BBC News.
  11. ^ Whannel, Kate (24 June 2024). "Conservatives are carrying out own betting inquiry – Rishi Sunak". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  12. ^ Grylls, George (25 June 2024). "Gambling watchdog widens inquiry into Tory betting scandal". The Times. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  13. ^ a b Mendick, Robert; Evans, Martin (24 June 2024). "Met Police 'leaked names of betting-scandal Tories'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  14. ^ Mason, Chris; Sandford, Daniel (25 June 2024). "Met Police denies being source of election bet leaks". BBC News. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  15. ^ Dodd, Vikram (25 June 2024). "Five more officers alleged to have placed election bets, Met says". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  16. ^ Crerar, Pippa; Dodd, Vikram; Davies, Rob (27 June 2024). "'At least' seven Met officers under investigation over general election bets". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  17. ^ Watts, Matt; Joshi, Jitendra (27 June 2024). "Seven Met police officers now being investigated over election betting". Evening Standard. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  18. ^ Pike, Joe (25 June 2024). "Cabinet minister claimed he won £2,000 on election bets". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  19. ^ Lloyd, Nina; Rkaina, Sam (26 June 2024). "Election betting scandal deepens as another Tory minister admits to gambling on date". Independent. Independent Digital News & Media Ltd. Retrieved 26 June 2024. Scotland secretary Alister Jack says he put three wagers on timing of July 4 poll but denies having broken rules
  20. ^ "Election latest: Tories withdraw support for candidates implicated in election date betting scandal". Sky News. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  21. ^ "Labour candidate suspended after betting against himself". Sky News. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  22. ^ Sigsworth, Tim (26 June 2024). "Senior Tory 'bet £8,000 he would lose his seat at election'". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  23. ^ Mason, Chris; McKiernan, Jennifer (28 June 2024). "PM's chief of staff helping election bet investigators". BBC News. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  24. ^ Walker, Peter (23 August 2024). "Political figures who bet on election date will not face police charges, Met says". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  25. ^ Crerar, Pippa; Dodd, Vikram; Stacey, Kiran (25 June 2024). "Election betting: Fifth Tory investigated in growing scandal". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  26. ^ Quinn, Andrew (24 June 2024). "Alex Cole-Hamilton says he placed bets on Scottish Lib Dems election candidates". Daily Record. Scottish Daily Record and Sunday Mail Ltd. Retrieved 24 June 2024. The Scottish Lib Dem leader has said he placed bets on his own party's candidates, according to reports.
  27. ^ "UK's gambling watchdog says more police officers implicated in UK election betting scandal". France 24. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  28. ^ Weaver, Matthew (13 June 2024). "David Cameron says Rishi Sunak aide's bet on election date was 'very foolish'". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  29. ^ "Election betting scandal as bad as partygate, says Michael Gove". The Telegraph. 22 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  30. ^ Mitchell, Archie (23 June 2024). "Election betting scandal grows as Gove likens controversy to Partygate". The Independent.
  31. ^ Francis, Sam (20 June 2024). "Rishi Sunak 'incredibly angry' over alleged election betting". BBC News. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  32. ^ "Sunak: Tories found to have broken betting rules will be booted out of party". The Irish News. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  33. ^ Courea, Eleni (23 June 2024). "Fourth Tory official subject to investigation in election date betting scandal". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  34. ^ "'Proper' to wait for result of betting probe, says Sunak amid ongoing scandal". The Independent. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  35. ^ Whannel, Kate (26 June 2024). "Ed Davey calls for gambling law review after election bet row". BBC News. Retrieved 26 June 2024.