NEW DELHI: Amid poll reports suggesting a debacle for the Conservatives in the upcoming general election, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak finds himself in a tight spot as two of his aides have been charged with alleged betting on the election dates.
Tony Lee, who is Sunak’s campaign director, has stepped aside reports cropped up that he and his were under probe for allegedly betting on the UK parliamentary poll date.
Though political bets are allowed in the UK, including on the date of the election, using insider input to do so is against the law.
Conservative Campaign Headquarters on Thursday issued a statement saying the Gambling Commission was looking into “a number of individuals”. It also claimed that Lee has taken “leave of absence”.
The regulator made no mention of identities being probed by the Gambing Commission but the BBC reported that Lee and his wife Laura Saunders, who is standing as a candidate in the July 4 election, were under investigation.
Laura Saunders’ lawyers said she would “be cooperating with the Gambling Commission” and claimed the report infringed her privacy rights.
Reacting to the allegations, Rishi Sunak said “he was incredibly angry” to hear that his party colleagues were being investigated over allegedly placing bets.
“I was incredibly angry to learn of these allegations. It’s a really serious matter. It’s right that they’re being investigated properly,” Sunak said during a televised debate. “I want to be crystal clear that if anyone has broken the rules, they should face the full force of the law.”
This comes when the commission was already investigating claims that another would-be MP, Craig Williams, who served as UK PM’s ministerial aide, staked £100 (Rs 8,958 approx.) on the date before it was announced.
The formal inquiry into the use of inside information for placing bets brings additional challenges for Rishi Sunak, as his party has been significantly trailing Labour in the polls by about 20 points for nearly two years. This situation raises the likelihood of them being ousted from office after 14 years.
Commenting on the issue while campaigning, senior minister Michael Gove acknowledged, “The situation doesn’t look great,” although he refrained from discussing specifics. He further stated, “The broad principle of using inside information to place bets was reprehensible.”
Labour leader Keir Starmer, tipped to succeed Sunak in Downing Street, urged Sunak to withdraw his support for those allegedly involved.
“It’s astonishing that we’re in this place… The government, Rishi Sunak, just needs to take action. He needs to account for exactly who knew what,” he told news agency AFP.
Labour’s campaign co-ordinator Pat McFadden separately wrote to Sunak and said the claims were “a pattern of behaviour” in the Tories focused on making “a quick profit”.
Sunak calls snap polls
Rishi Sunak on May 23 called for an early general election in the UK to be held on July 4, 2024.
The decision comes at a time when the Conservative Party, which has been in power since 2010, faces significant challenges and controversies. Sunak, who has been Prime Minister since October 2022, made the announcement amidst economic turbulence, a cost-of-living crisis, and ongoing debates over immigration and public services.
The election, initially expected to take place in the autumn or as late as January 2025, has been brought forward in what appears to be a strategic gamble by Sunak and his party.
The Conservative Party, currently lagging behind Labour in the polls, is confronted with deep internal divisions and a series of crises. These include the fallout from Brexit, economic instability, and frequent leadership changes, with Sunak being the latest in a line of recent Prime Ministers.
The Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, is seen as the front-runner, promising economic stability and improved public services. The upcoming election will determine the future direction of the UK government, with all 650 seats in the House of Commons up for grabs.
Tony Lee, who is Sunak’s campaign director, has stepped aside reports cropped up that he and his were under probe for allegedly betting on the UK parliamentary poll date.
Though political bets are allowed in the UK, including on the date of the election, using insider input to do so is against the law.
Conservative Campaign Headquarters on Thursday issued a statement saying the Gambling Commission was looking into “a number of individuals”. It also claimed that Lee has taken “leave of absence”.
The regulator made no mention of identities being probed by the Gambing Commission but the BBC reported that Lee and his wife Laura Saunders, who is standing as a candidate in the July 4 election, were under investigation.
Laura Saunders’ lawyers said she would “be cooperating with the Gambling Commission” and claimed the report infringed her privacy rights.
Reacting to the allegations, Rishi Sunak said “he was incredibly angry” to hear that his party colleagues were being investigated over allegedly placing bets.
“I was incredibly angry to learn of these allegations. It’s a really serious matter. It’s right that they’re being investigated properly,” Sunak said during a televised debate. “I want to be crystal clear that if anyone has broken the rules, they should face the full force of the law.”
This comes when the commission was already investigating claims that another would-be MP, Craig Williams, who served as UK PM’s ministerial aide, staked £100 (Rs 8,958 approx.) on the date before it was announced.
The formal inquiry into the use of inside information for placing bets brings additional challenges for Rishi Sunak, as his party has been significantly trailing Labour in the polls by about 20 points for nearly two years. This situation raises the likelihood of them being ousted from office after 14 years.
Commenting on the issue while campaigning, senior minister Michael Gove acknowledged, “The situation doesn’t look great,” although he refrained from discussing specifics. He further stated, “The broad principle of using inside information to place bets was reprehensible.”
Labour leader Keir Starmer, tipped to succeed Sunak in Downing Street, urged Sunak to withdraw his support for those allegedly involved.
“It’s astonishing that we’re in this place… The government, Rishi Sunak, just needs to take action. He needs to account for exactly who knew what,” he told news agency AFP.
Labour’s campaign co-ordinator Pat McFadden separately wrote to Sunak and said the claims were “a pattern of behaviour” in the Tories focused on making “a quick profit”.
Sunak calls snap polls
Rishi Sunak on May 23 called for an early general election in the UK to be held on July 4, 2024.
The decision comes at a time when the Conservative Party, which has been in power since 2010, faces significant challenges and controversies. Sunak, who has been Prime Minister since October 2022, made the announcement amidst economic turbulence, a cost-of-living crisis, and ongoing debates over immigration and public services.
The election, initially expected to take place in the autumn or as late as January 2025, has been brought forward in what appears to be a strategic gamble by Sunak and his party.
The Conservative Party, currently lagging behind Labour in the polls, is confronted with deep internal divisions and a series of crises. These include the fallout from Brexit, economic instability, and frequent leadership changes, with Sunak being the latest in a line of recent Prime Ministers.
The Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, is seen as the front-runner, promising economic stability and improved public services. The upcoming election will determine the future direction of the UK government, with all 650 seats in the House of Commons up for grabs.
