Rishi Sunak has said he is not being investigated by the Gambling Commission as part of its probe into bets placed on the date of the general election.
The prime minister also said the Conservatives would conduct their own internal investigation into the allegations that have dogged the latter part of his campaign.
Speaking to reporters in Edinburgh, Mr Sunak said his party “will act” if the Conservatives’ own inquiry into the alleged betting scandal finds wrongdoing.
“The Gambling Commission is independent of government – it’s independent of me,” he said.
“I don’t have the details of their investigation, right? They don’t report to me, I don’t have the details, but what I can tell you is, in parallel we’ve been conducting our own internal inquiries and of course will act on any relevant findings or information from that and pass it on to the Gambling Commission.”
Election latest: betting scandal hangs over Tories
When asked whether he had ever bet on politics whilst being an MP, Mr Sunak replied: “No.”
The prime minister, who also ruled out any of his family members being involved, is in Scotland to help Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross launch the party’s manifesto.
Speaking before the visit, Mr Sunak said the Scottish Conservatives are “sending the nationalists the strongest message possible that the people of Scotland want to move on from their independence obsession”.
The Conservative campaign has been plunged into crisis over claims several people associated with the party placed bets on the date of the election.
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Another top Tory being investigated
Craig Williams admitted to betting on the election date. Pic: PA
Laura Saunders is the party’s candidate in Bristol North West.
Pic: Laura Saunders for Bristol North West
Craig Williams, Mr Sunak’s parliamentary private secretary and Tory candidate in Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr, admitted to placing a “flutter” on the date of the election and is facing an investigation.
Tony Lee, the party’s director of campaigns, and his wife Laura Saunders, the Tory candidate for Bristol North West, are also under investigation.
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has rejected calls, including from within Tory ranks, for those facing an investigation to be suspended while the probe is ongoing.
Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Sunak’s announcement that there would be an internal party investigation was an effort to kick the story “into the long grass” and showed a “total failure of leadership”.
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“He’s announced an investigation, an investigation designed for one purpose, which is to knock this in the long grass to the other side of the election,” Sir Keir said during a speech at Northampton Town football club.
The Labour leader argued an investigation should already have been carried out and added: “It would take half an hour. Who knew? Did you place a bet? That’s it.”
Sir Keir was echoed by shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, who said the Conservative Party was hiding “behind the Gambling Commission.
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He told Times Radio it was “entirely reasonable” for Pat McFadden, Labour’s national campaign co-ordinator, to write to the watchdog over the issue, after Mr Heaton-Harris accused Labour of trying to put “undue influence” on the commission.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage also aimed his fire at the Conservatives while speaking at a rally in Kent, likening the party to “something of an organised betting ring”.
“I wonder how many people were running into betting shops with £100, £200, £500 – this scandal will get worse,” he said.
He went on to joke: “But I hear that Rishi Sunak is on the verge of doing something very decisive about it – I understand this afternoon he’ll announce we’re leaving the Gambling Commission.”
