British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party is facing a series of allegations on Thursday involving his bodyguard and aides over betting around the general election date, which is scheduled for July 4.
The Metropolitan Police initially suspended an officer from Sunak’s personal security detail and later arrested the individual on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Soon after, it emerged that the UK’s Gambling Commission was investigating several individuals linked to the governing Tories over allegedly betting on the timing of the election. While betting is legal in the UK, any bets placed with the advantage of insider information could fall within the purview of illegality.
“The matter was immediately referred to officers in the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards, who opened an investigation, and the officer was also removed from operational duties,” the Met Police was quoted by the BBC as saying.
“The officer was subsequently arrested on Monday 17 June on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was taken into custody and bailed pending further enquiries,” the Met Police said.
Last week, the ‘Guardian’ newspaper reported that Sunak’s close parliamentary aide, Craig Williams, placed a GBP 100 bet with Ladbrokes at a five to one odds on a July election just three days before the British Indian leader had surprised the country with a summer election, as opposed to a widely expected autumn date later in the year. Williams, 39, is the Tory candidate for Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr in Wales. In a statement, he said his “flutter” on the election had prompted some “routine inquiries” and that he would “fully cooperate with these”.
“I don’t want it to be a distraction from the campaign. I should have thought through how it looks,” he said.
It has since emerged that a second Conservative candidate, who is married to the party’s Director of Campaigns – who would be expected to have knowledge of election matters,