The Conservative Party withdraws its support for two candidates involved in the betting scandal | Political news

Craig Williams and Laura Saunders are being investigated by the Gambling Commission, but Rishi Sunak said he had to wait until it was over to decide what to do with them.

The Conservative Party has withdrawn its support for two candidates who are being investigated for betting on the timing of the general election.

The Conservative election campaign has been plunged into crisis as two Conservative candidates, two officials and an officer from Rishi Sunak’s close protection team are being investigated by the Gambling Commission for betting on the timing of the election.

The prime minister had insisted he must wait until the Gambling Commission’s investigation was completed before taking any action, but he faced pressure to suspend Craig Williams and Laura Saunders, the two Tory candidates.

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On Tuesday morning, almost two weeks after Mr Williams became the first person to be investigated, the Conservative Party announced it was no longer being supported as a Conservative candidate.

Ms Saunders is in Bristol North West and Mr Williams in Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr – the only seat in Wales the Conservatives should win in last week’s YouGov poll.

They will still appear on ballot papers as Conservative candidates because it is too late to change them before next Thursday’s vote, but they will have no support for the rest of the campaign from the party and will not be able to call themselves Conservatives.

Independent stand

Whether they remain Conservative after the election depends on the outcome of the Gambling Commission’s inquiry, it is understood.

Mr Williams has confirmed he will remain in the seat he has held since 2019, but as an independent.

Posting on X, he reiterated his apology to the public and said he was “co-operating fully” with the Gambling Commission’s investigation, adding: “I am committed to my campaign to be elected as a Member of Parliament and a staunch champion.”

A Conservative Party spokesman said: “Following ongoing internal inquiries, we have come to the conclusion that we can no longer support Craig Williams or Laura Saunders as parliamentary candidates at the next general election.

“I have checked with the Gambling Commission that this decision does not compromise their investigation, which is rightly independent and ongoing.”

Sky News has contacted Ms Saunders and Mr Williams for comment.

The two officials under investigation both took a leave of absence last week when their names were revealed. They are Tony Lee, the Conservative campaign director and Mrs Saunders’ husband, and Nick Masonthe party’s data director – who has denied any wrongdoing.

Mr. Sunak’s close protection officer was arrested

Sky News understands many more people are being investigated as part of the investigation, several police officers are also being investigated to see if they are involved.

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Among those calling on Mr Sunak to suspend the candidates were Tory peers Sir Robert Buckland, a former justice secretary; Tobias Ellwood, former defense minister; Steve Baker, a current Northern Ireland minister; Home Secretary James Cleverly and Baroness Ruth Davidson, former leader of the Scottish Conservatives.

Baroness Davidson, speaking further Sky News’ Electoral Dysfunction podcasthe had said that Mr. Sunak should ignore the watchdog and suspend those under investigation.

“Poor leadership”

She said: “The Gambling Commission is very, very clear about what you are not allowed to say when someone is being investigated by the Gambling Commission.

“But I’m sorry, you’re the prime minister of a G7 nation in the middle of an election campaign when you’re fighting for your life.

“If the Gambling Commission wants to yell at you for suspending someone and saying that, just do it. That’s leadership.”

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The Labor Party and Lib Dems have also called for the candidates to be suspended.

Shadow Labor minister Jonathan Ashworth said the delay in suspending candidates showed the Tories believed “it’s one rule for them and another for everyone else”.

“It is yet another example of Rishi Sunak’s stunningly poor leadership that it took him almost two weeks to see what was obvious to everyone else,” he added.

“Conservatives who tried to line their own pockets by betting on the election date are not fit to be candidates for parliament.

“Rishi Sunak must now speak to voters across the country and tell them exactly how many of his Tories are involved and who they are.”

“The Conservatives bet against Britain”

Daisy Cooper, deputy leader of the Lib Dems, said: “This should have happened straight away when these scandalous revelations came out, but instead Rishi Sunak hesitated and delayed.

“Sunak must immediately confirm that these candidates will not have the Tory whip if elected.

“From the mini budget to this gambling scandal, the Tories have bet against Britain and now face a decision at the polls on July 4.”

The other candidates for Bristol North West are:

Caroline Gooch, Lib Dems

Darren Jones, Labour

Scarlett O’Connor, Reform Britain

Mary Page, Green Party

Ben Smith, SDP

The other candidates for Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr are:

Jeremy Brignell-Thorp, Green Party

Oliver Lewis, Reform UK

Glyn Preston, Lib Dems

Elwyn Vaughan, Plaid Cymru

Steve Witherden, Labor