2024 United Kingdom general election date betting controversy
During the 2024 United Kingdom general election campaign, allegations were made that bets were placed by individuals with insider knowledge of the date of the general election before Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister at the time, publicly announced when it would be held. The controversy has been dubbed in the media as Gamblegate[1][2] and Betgate.[3]
The Guardian reported that a Conservative candidate in the election and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, Craig Williams, had placed a £100 bet on 19 May 2024 that the election would be in July, three days before Sunak announced the general election to the public. In response, the Gambling Commission opened an inquiry into alleged betting offences relating to the day of the election. On 25 June, the Conservative Party suspended Craig Williams and Laura Saunders as candidates "as a result of ongoing internal inquiries".[4]
Background
editOn 12 June 2024, The Guardian reported that a Conservative candidate in the election and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, Craig Williams, had put a £100 bet on a July election with Ladbrokes in a branch in his constituency of Montgomeryshire on 19 May, three days before Rishi Sunak announced the election to the public on the 22nd.[5] He apologised for the bet, calling it "a huge error of judgment"; both Williams and Sunak declined to answer when asked if Williams had inside information.[6]
Inquiry
editIn response to the initial report on Craig Williams's bet, the Gambling Commission opened an inquiry into alleged betting offences relating to the day of the election.
The Metropolitan Police was contacted by the Gambling Commission on 14 June 2024 concerning this inquiry, informing it that it was investigating alleged bets that were made by a police constable from the force's Royalty and Specialist Protection Command. The officer was initially suspended, then on 17 June arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, taken into custody and bailed pending further inquiries.[7]
On 19 June, BBC News reported that the Conservative Party's director of campaigning, Tony Lee, is being investigated by the Gambling Commission over an alleged bet related to the date of the election.[8] Lee's wife, Laura Saunders, the Conservative candidate for Bristol North West, is also being investigated in relation to bets on the date of the election.[9]
On 22 June, The Sunday Times reported that the Conservative Party's chief data officer, Nick Mason, had allegedly placed 'dozens' of bets over an unspecified period, which would have amounted to thousands of pounds of winnings.[10]
On 23 June, Chris Mason, of the BBC, was told that more unnamed people linked to the Conservative Party were being investigated by the Gambling Commission.[11] On 24 June Sunak said that he was "not aware of any other" Conservative candidates being investigated by the Gambling Commission.[12] The Times reported that the investigation was being widened to 100s of suspicious bets.[13]
According to The Telegraph, a source close to the Cabinet Office believed the "leaks" of who was being investigated originated with the Metropolitan Police.[14] The Met denied this.[15]
On 25 June, The Telegraph reported that the Gambling Commission is also investigating five other police officers in relation to allegations of placing bets on the election date.[14] The Met subsequently confirmed that the Gambling Commission is investigating the officers.[16]
On 25 June, the Conservative Party suspended Craig Williams and Laura Saunders as candidates "as a result of ongoing internal inquiries".[4] On the same day, Labour suspended Kevin Craig, their candidate for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, after the Gambling Commission launches an unrelated investigation into him for placing a bet against himself losing in his constituency election.[17]
Reaction
editForeign Secretary David Cameron condemned Williams for making the bet, saying it was a "very foolish decision".[18] Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, who is standing down as an MP at the election, thought that the scandal was as damaging as Partygate for the Conservative party.[19][20]
Rishi Sunak said on 20 June, that he was "incredibly angry to learn of these allegations" and that "it's right that they're being investigated properly by the relevant law enforcement authorities".[21]
References
edit- ^ "Sir Robert Buckland thinks those involved in 'gamblegate' should be suspended Video". Global Player. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ Wingate, Sophie (21 June 2024). "Election campaign day 30: Sunak fails to move on from betting scandal". Evening Standard. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ Payne, Sebastian (21 June 2024). "Betgate crosses an appalling line". The i. London. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Election latest: Tories withdraw support for candidates implicated in election date betting scandal". Sky News. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ Crerar, Pippa (12 June 2024). "Rishi Sunak aide placed bet on election date days before announcement". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ Martin, Daniel. "Sunak refuses to say whether aide who bet on election date knew it would be in July". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 14 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
- ^ Mason, Chris (19 June 2024). "Rishi Sunak's protection officer arrested over alleged bets". BBC News. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ Mason, Chris; Kuenssberg, Laura (20 June 2024). "Tory campaign official Tony Lee looked into over alleged bet". BBC News. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ Crerar, Pippa; Weaver, Matthew (20 June 2024). "Gambling watchdog looks into second Tory candidate over alleged election bet". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ Yorke, Harry; Wheeler, Caroline; Gabriel, Pogrund (23 June 2024). "Top Tory under investigation for alleged election betting". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ Mason, Chris (23 June 2024). "More people investigated over general election bet allegations". BBC News.
- ^ Whannel, Kate (24 June 2024). "Conservatives are carrying out own betting inquiry – Rishi Sunak". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ Grylls, George (25 June 2024). "Gambling watchdog widens inquiry into Tory betting scandal". The Times. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ a b Mendick, Robert; Evans, Martin (24 June 2024). "Met Police 'leaked names of betting-scandal Tories'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ Mason, Chris; Sandford, Daniel (25 June 2024). "Met Police denies being source of election bet leaks". BBC News. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ Dodd, Vikram (25 June 2024). "Five more officers alleged to have placed election bets, Met says". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ "Labour candidate suspended after betting against himself". Sky News. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ Weaver, Matthew (13 June 2024). "David Cameron says Rishi Sunak aide's bet on election date was 'very foolish'". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ "Election betting scandal as bad as partygate, says Michael Gove". The Telegraph. 22 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ Mitchell, Archie (23 June 2024). "Election betting scandal grows as Gove likens controversy to Partygate". The Independent.
- ^ Francis, Sam (20 June 2024). "Rishi Sunak 'incredibly angry' over alleged election betting". BBC News. Retrieved 23 June 2024.