The chief data officer of Britain’s Conservative Party has taken a leave of absence, British media reported Sunday, following growing allegations that the governing party’s members used inside information to bet on the date of Britain’s July 4 national election before it was announced. The Sunday Times and others reported that Nick Mason is the fourth Conservative official to be investigated by the U.K.’s Gambling Commission for allegedly betting on the timing of the election. The Times alleged that dozens of bets had been placed with potential winnings worth thousands of pounds. The reports came after revelations in recent days that two Conservative election candidates, Laura Saunders and Craig Williams, are under investigation by the gambling watchdog. Saunders’ husband Tony Lee, the Conservative director of campaigning, has also taken a leave of absence following allegations he was also investigated over alleged betting. Police said one of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ‘s police bodyguards was arrested Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The arrest came after the gambling regulator confirmed it was investigating “the possibility of offences concerning the date of the election.”
Quick Read
- The UK election betting scandal has widened with a fourth Conservative Party official, chief data officer Nick Mason, reportedly taking a leave of absence amid investigations.
- Allegations suggest that party members used inside information to bet on the date of the July 4 national election before its official announcement.
- The U.K.’s Gambling Commission is investigating the potential offenses, with dozens of bets allegedly placed worth thousands of pounds.
- Two Conservative election candidates, Laura Saunders and Craig Williams, and Conservative director of campaigning Tony Lee, are also under investigation.
- Police arrested a member of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s police bodyguards on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to the scandal.
- Sunak has expressed anger over the allegations and called for expulsion from the party for anyone found guilty.
- The controversy adds pressure to the Conservative Party ahead of the national election, with the opposition Labour Party favored to win.
- The situation has drawn comparisons to the “Partygate” scandal, which eroded public trust in the Conservatives.
- Senior minister Michael Gove condemned the alleged betting, emphasizing the potential damage to the party’s reputation.
- The Liberal Democrats have called for an official inquiry into the matter.
- The Conservative Party has refrained from commenting while investigations are ongoing.
The Associated Press has the story:
UK election betting scandal widens as a 4th Conservative Party official reportedly investigated
Newslooks- LONDON (AP) —
The chief data officer of Britain’s Conservative Party has taken a leave of absence, British media reported Sunday, following growing allegations that the governing party’s members used inside information to bet on the date of Britain’s July 4 national election before it was announced.
The Sunday Times and others reported that Nick Mason is the fourth Conservative official to be investigated by the U.K.’s Gambling Commission for allegedly betting on the timing of the election. The Times alleged that dozens of bets had been placed with potential winnings worth thousands of pounds.
The reports came after revelations in recent days that two Conservative election candidates, Laura Saunders and Craig Williams, are under investigation by the gambling watchdog.
Saunders’ husband Tony Lee, the Conservative director of campaigning, has also taken a leave of absence following allegations he was also investigated over alleged betting. Police said one of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ‘s police bodyguards was arrested Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
The arrest came after the gambling regulator confirmed it was investigating “the possibility of offences concerning the date of the election.”
The growing scandal, just two weeks ahead of the national election, has dealt a fresh blow to Sunak’s Conservative Party, which is widely expected to lose to the opposition Labour Party after 14 years in power.
Sunak said this week that he was “incredibly angry” to learn of the allegations and said that anyone found to have broken the law should be expelled from his party.
Sunak announced on May 22 that parliamentary elections would be held on July 4. The date had been a closely guarded secret and many were taken by surprise because a vote had been expected in the fall.
Saunders, a candidate standing in Bristol, southwest England, has said she will cooperate fully with the investigation.
Williams was Sunak’s parliamentary private secretary as well as a member of Parliament running for reelection on July 4. He has acknowledged that he was being investigated by the Gambling Commission for placing a 100-pound ($128) bet on a July election before the date had been announced.
Senior Conservative minister Michael Gove condemned the alleged betting and likened it to “ Partygate,” the ethics scandal that contributed to former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s ouster in 2022.
That controversy saw public trust in the Conservatives plummet after revelations that politicians and officials held lockdown-flouting parties and gatherings in government buildings during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
“It looks like one rule for them and one rule for us,” Gove told the Sunday Times. “That’s the most potentially damaging thing.”
Daisy Cooper, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, said “people are sick and tired of this sleaze” and that Sunak must intervene and order an official inquiry.
The Conservative Party said it cannot comment because investigations are ongoing.
