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Election latest: Tories drop support for candidates in betting scandal

by DD Staff

June 25, 2024

Pic: Collected

key takeaways

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 pair will still appear on the ballot under Conservative party banners but this decision means they will become independent if elected, pending the result of an investigation.

Mr Williams has previously apologised and said he made a "huge error of judgement".

When asked by the BBC, he refused to say whether he placed a bet on the basis of inside information.

A spokesperson for Ms Saunders said she would be co-operating with the Gambling Commission and had nothing further to add.

A Conservative Party spokesman said: "As a result of ongoing internal enquiries, we have concluded that we can no longer support Craig Williams or Laura Saunders as parliamentary candidates at the forthcoming general election.

"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."

Two sources earlier told the BBC that the party board had held urgent discussions about how to handle the row.

Mr Sunak has said he is “incredibly angry” about the allegations.

Two members of Conservative staff have also taken leaves of absence from their roles after it emerged they were being looked into by the Gambling Commission.