The election betting scandal has deepened with the investigation of a Welsh Conservative member and a cabinet minister admitting to placing bets on the general election date. Russell George, a Welsh Conservative member of the Senedd, has stepped back from the shadow cabinet as he faces a probe by the Gambling Commission for alleged betting on the timing of the vote. He has pledged to cooperate fully with the investigation, while Welsh Tory leader Andrew RT Davies confirmed that no other members of the Welsh Conservative Group had placed any bets.
Mr. George is the third Conservative candidate under investigation, along with two Tory officials, Rishi Sunak’s close protection officer, and five other officers. Scotland Secretary Alister Jack admitted to placing three bets on the election timing but denied breaking any rules and is not under investigation.
Up to 15 Conservative candidates and officials are being investigated by the Gambling Commission, raising questions about whether politicians should be banned from betting on politics. Meanwhile, Labour has also been implicated in the scandal, with the suspension of the Labour candidate for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, Kevin Craig, for betting on a Conservative winning the seat.
The controversy has sparked a debate on the involvement of politicians in gambling on politics and where the line should be drawn. Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride suggested that a broader discussion is needed to determine the rules around politicians and gambling on political events. Son Tony Lee, el director de campañas de los Tory y esposo de la Sra. Saunders, y Nick Mason, el director de datos del partido, quien ha negado cualquier mala conducta. El oficial de protección cercana de Mr Sunak fue arrestado la semana pasada por supuestas apuestas en una elección de julio. A continuación, se muestra una lista completa de los candidatos que se postulan para Central Suffolk y North Ipswich: Charlie Caiger, independiente, Tony Gould, Reforma UK, Mike Hallatt, independiente, Brett Mickelburgh, Lib Dems, Dan Pratt, Verdes, Patrick Spencer, Conservadores.