Following the alleged election wagering incident in the UK, Sunak's campaign manager is reportedly put on hold.
In the recent days, the Gambling Commission has been dealing with accusations that a conservative politician and advisor to Sunak, Craig Williams, wagered on when the election would be held. The Commission is suspecting that Williams placed a £100 bet (118 Euro) three days prior to the election date announcement.
On a Wednesday evening, a government protection officer and another Sunak conservative party candidate were unearthed as potential suspects. The regulatory body didn't disclose any names, but a BBC report suggests that Sunak's campaign advisor Lee and his wife Laura Saunders are under investigation.
Another conservative candidate was reported by the BBC on Wednesday evening to be under scrutiny over an alleged bet on the election date. The party confirmed to the broadcaster that the Commission had reached out to them about a "small number of people," but remained silent on the matter further.
Sunak announced approximately a month ago that the British Parliament election would take place on July 4. This came as a shock to his own party, as the Prime Minister still had six months to call for the election. It's predicted that the conservative Tories will lose power after 14 years - polls show the opposition Labour Party persistently leading Sunak's party.
The London Metropolitan Police also declared that the Gambling Commission had informed them that investigations were ongoing regarding alleged bets on the election date against a police officer serving in Sunak's personal protection unit. The man has been relieved of duty.
The officer was apprehended on suspicions of misconduct in public office but has since been granted bail. His case was reportedly given to an independent body for police misconduct investigations.
Political betting is legal in the United Kingdom, including on the election date. However, utilizing insider information for this purpose is illegal. The ongoing investigation casts a shadow over Sunak.
Michael Gove, the Housing Minister, acknowledged the situation's unfavorable image during a campaign tour on Thursday when speaking to reporters. He couldn't comment on specifics but earlier, the BBC quoted him as saying it was generally "disgusting" to use insider information for gambling.
Labour Leader Keir Starmer, who has a strong chance of replacing Sunak in Downing Street according to polls, demanded that the Premier withdraw his support for the alleged individuals and order an investigation. "It's shocking that we find ourselves in this predicament," Starmer said. "The government, Rishi Sunak, must take action. He must clarify who knew what and when."
Labour Campaign Coordinator Pat McFadden wrote a separate letter to Sunak, calling the allegations a "pattern" of the Tories acting for "quick profits."
According to the Liberal Democrats' leader, Ed Davey, the accusations have a "stench of corruption." "Strict action from the top is necessary," he demanded. Vice-Chair of the Liberal Democrats, Daisy Cooper, also called for an investigation. "It seems like more dirty dealings. An investigation is essential to discover who knew what and when," she said.
