Detectives from the Metropolitan Police to investigate allegations of political betting where a “wider” criminal question is required.
And let it continue. Now the police have to get involved in the “gamblegate” political betting saga that continues to overshadow the closing stages of the General Election campaign.
While the Gambling Commission remains in charge of the main investigation of alleged “cheating”, detectives from Scotland Yard will take over in cases where more serious criminality – such as misconduct in public office – is suspected.
Detective Superintendent Katherine Goodwin said: “We have agreed a joint approach with the Gambling Commission, whose authority is appropriate to investigate the majority of these allegations.
“However, there will be some cases that require a more extensive criminal investigation by the police.”
The Met has announced that the number of officers being investigated over bets placed on election dates has risen to seven – including close protection team member Rishi Sunak who was arrested last week.
Rishi Sunak gave a speech on Thursday in Leeds
Getty Images
So far, five Conservatives have also been implicated in the investigation, with reports suggesting at least 15 candidates and parliamentary officials may be involved.
Campaigning in Derbyshire, the Prime Minister repeatedly refused to say whether she had told her former parliamentary aide, Craig Williams, the date of the election before making the announcement.
“You will understand that there is an ongoing independent investigation, so it would be inappropriate for me to speak about that,” he said.
Earlier this week the Tories withdrew their support for Mr Williams in his bid to return as MP for the Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr seat after admitting to having “flutter” on the election date.
What does it matter to you whether I do it or not? I hope to win. I’m busting my gut to win. I expect to lose
Sir Philip Davies on reported election betting
Self-styled Brexit hardliner Steve Baker has become the latest senior Tory to signal he is prepared to enter the fray if Mr Sunak is ousted following the Conservative defeat on July 4.
The Northern Ireland minister has signaled his leadership – if he can win re-election in Wycombe where he defended his 4,214 majority.
“One thing. I want to represent the people of Wycombe to the best of my ability, as I have always done. Then let’s see what happens,” he told the PA news agency.
He joins Cabinet ministers Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly and Victoria Atkins among those who have taken up positions.
Mr. Baker certainly has form. He is a leading light in the European Research Group which has caused a lot of trouble for Theresa May over Brexit and has proved a thorn in the Tory leader’s side over Covid and net zero rules.
He later announced that many of the rebellions – “grabbing this tiger by the tail” – had taken their toll, leading to a “major mental health crisis”.
Great British Pottery Show Down
After a sparky encounter in the last TV debate, Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer have engaged in more mud slinging. Or more precisely, clay.
The Tory and Labor leaders both headed to the Potteries where they tried to show off their skills in ceramics for the cameras.
The first was Mr. Sunak who received instructions to dip a teapot in pottery glaze while visiting Denby Pottery in Derbyshire.
Rishi Sunak during his visit to the Denby Pottery Factory on Thursday
via REUTERS
The Prime Minister was given 8/10 for the effort by the dipper Georgia Plinston, who praised her for a relatively even layer achieved.
Sir Keir later visited a bone china factory and stamped the word “change” on a mug made by celebrity potter Keith Brymer Jones.
The Great Pottery Throw Down’s expert judges make a cuppa as they talk to Labor leaders about apprenticeships for artisans at the Duchess China factory outside Stoke.
“I often describe my career as a series of mistakes with some success,” Brymer Jones said.
“I must join you there,” laughed Sir Keir.
Political betting can now exercise the police as well as regulators but some players don’t seem to care.
When The Sun reported that Tory Sir Philip Davies had placed an £8,000 bet on himself to lose, he declared that it was “nobody’s business” but his own.
“What does it matter to you whether I do or not?” to the paper. “I hope we can win. I’m busting my gut to win. I expect to lose.”
Sir Philip, who previously hosted a show on GB News with his wife Esther McVey before becoming a Government minister, defended his 6,242 majority in the West Yorkshire seat of Shipley.
While he refused to confirm or deny the bet this time, he admitted that he was not shy about betting a few pounds in previous elections.
“In the 2005 election, I tried to win. I expected to lose. I had my own bet to lose in the 2005 election, and my bet went down,” he said.
As the campaign enters its closing stages, the main parties have increased spending on social media advertising as they strive to get every last vote.
Transparency campaign Who Targets Me said the Conservatives spent £332,000 last week on advertising on platforms owned by Meta – including Facebook and Instagram – while Labor paid £350,000.
But while Labor’s ads have largely presented their own plans for government, the Tories have focused more on attacking their opponents.
Sir Keir Starmer chats with celebrity potter Keith Brymer Jones during a visit to Princess China in Longton
Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
According to Who Targets Me, 83% of Conservative ads mentioned Labor – compared to just 1.1% that name-checked Mr Sunak and 0.4% that highlighted Tory policies.
“If there are any numbers that show how the ‘no vote Labour’ campaign, rather than the ‘vote Tory’ campaign, is this. The tone is consistently negative,” the campaigners said.
Rishi Sunak has been blasted on X for posting a poster that reads, “Don’t hand over your family’s future to Labour”, along with pictures of what appears to be an elderly man, a woman and a small child with their arms crossed. up.
The Prime Minister also commented, “I will not stop fighting for this country”, above that.
Hundreds of people responded, some asking Mr. Sunak, “Are you serious sir?”, and others asking how he could post such “disgusting” pictures.
Another person blasted the Conservative leader’s decision to leave the D-Day commemoration early, adding: “War for this country? Why don’t you leave the people who fought for our country in France for interviews?”
What the polls say
Two opinion polls have been published in the past 24 hours, which show Labor continues to hold a large lead over the Conservatives, with Reform a few points in third place.
More In Common gives Labor a 17-percentage-point lead over the Tories while Norstat puts Labor 16 points ahead.
The average of all opinion polls with survey work completed in the seven days to June 27 puts Labor at 41%, 20 points ahead of the Conservatives at 21%, followed by the Reforms at 15%, the Lib Dems at 11% and the Greens at 6. % .
What happens tomorrow
Nigel Farage and Greens leader Adrian Ramsay appeared on BBC Question Time.