Gove says election bets are ‘betrayal of Prime Minister’s trust’ as second Tory candidate investigated by regulator

20 June 2024, 08:30

Watch Again: Nick Ferrari is joined by Levelling Up and Housing Secretary Michael Gove | 20/06/24

By Jenny Medlicott

Michael Gove has said that Tory candidates being investigated over alleged bets made about the General Election date is a ‘betrayal of trust’ in the Prime Minister.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Laura Saunders, the Conservative candidate for Bristol North West, is reportedly being investigated by the Gambling Commission over an alleged bet she made about the date of the General Election.

The inquiry makes Ms Saunders the second Tory candidate to be investigated over a bet on the General Election date.

Speaking to LBC’s Nick Ferrari at Breakfast, the Housing Secretary said that the investigations were ‘beyond embarrassing’ for the Conservative party.

Asked about how the inquiries reflected on the partys, Mr Gove said: “It’s beyond embarrassing, it’s wrong - it’s also the principle here.

“It’s not just a betrayal of trust in the Prime Minister, which is very bad, it also means that other punters are losing out because of insider information and that means the system isn’t operating fairly.”

He added: “It’s beyond bad to use information like that to secure an advantage.”

A Conservative spokesman said of the inquiry: “We have been contacted by the Gambling Commission about a small number of individuals.

“As the Gambling Commission is an independent body, it wouldn’t be proper to comment further, until any process is concluded.”

Read more: Watch in full: LBC's exclusive phone-in interviews with Sir Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak

Read more: Rishi Sunak set 'to become first PM to lose seat' in election wipeout with Conservatives down to just 53 MPs, poll finds

Tory candidate Laura Saunders is reportedly being investigated over the allegation.
Tory candidate Laura Saunders is reportedly being investigated over the allegation. Picture: https://www.laurasaunders.uk/about-laura-saunders

It comes after it emerged last week that Craig Williams, who served as the Prime Minister's parliamentary private secretary and is the Conservative candidate for Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr, is being investigated by the regulator after he “put a flutter” on the election date.

The Tory candidate wrote on X last week: “I've been contacted by a journalist about Gambling Commission inquiries into one of my accounts and thought it best to be totally transparent.

"I put a flutter on the General Election some weeks ago. This has resulted in some routine inquiries and I confirm I will fully cooperate with these. I don't want it to be a distraction from the campaign. I should have thought through how it looks."

A Conservative Party spokesperson said at the time: "We are aware of contact between a Conservative candidate and the Gambling Commission. It is a personal matter for the individual in question.

"As the Gambling Commission is an independent body, it wouldn't be proper to comment further, until any process is concluded."

The Guardian reported Mr Williams placed a £100 bet on a July election just days before Mr Sunak named the date as July 4.

Michael Gove said the investigations are a 'betrayal of trust' in the Prime Minister.
Michael Gove said the investigations are a 'betrayal of trust' in the Prime Minister. Picture: Alamy

On Wednesday, it was also revealed that one of Rishi Sunak’s close protection officers had been arrested over alleged bets on the date of the election.

The officer, part of the prime minister's security detail, was initially suspended before their arrest over alleged bets about the timing of the general election.

The Metropolitan Police said they were contacted by the Gambling Commission last Friday, who confirmed they were investigating the alleged bets.

The police constable is from royalty and specialist protection command, the Met said.

The Gambling Commission confirmed it was investigating "the possibility of offences concerning the date of the election".

A spokesperson said: "The Gambling Commission regulates gambling in the interests of consumers and the wider public. "Currently the commission is investigating the possibility of offences concerning the date of the election.

"This is an ongoing investigation, and the commission cannot provide any further details at this time."

The Metropolitan Police said, meanwhile: "We can confirm that on Friday, 14 June, the Met were contacted by the Gambling Commission who informed us that they were investigating alleged bets made by a police constable from the Met's Royalty and Specialist Protection Command, which were related to the timing of the General Election.

"The matter was immediately referred to officers in the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards, who opened an investigation, and the officer was also removed from operational duties.

"The officer was subsequently arrested on Monday 17 June on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was taken into custody and bailed pending further enquiries. The matter has also been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

"The Gambling Commission continues to lead the investigation into the alleged betting offences, and our investigation is running in parallel to that."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

One of Tesla’s earliest investors has called for Elon Musk to step down as CEO, saying the ‘divisive’ billionaire has ‘destroyed the company’s reputation’.

‘It’s a crisis’ - Top Tesla investor calls for ‘divisive’ Elon Musk to step down as CEO as stocks keep plunging

Liz Kendall has told LBC that the welfare system ‘has to be reformed’ as the government faces a backlash from Labour MPs for their plans to shake up the benefits system.

‘Can’t duck the issue’ of UK’s soaring benefits bill, Liz Kendall tells LBC

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel's deadly strikes on Gaza will continue in full force.

Netanyahu warns this is 'just the beginning' of 'full force' Gaza strikes after overnight attack kills 400

U.K. GCSE Exams

Teenagers could sit fewer GCSE exams amid concerns of overstress, Government review suggests

DigDat performs at Wireless Festival 2021 at Crystal Palace on September 12, 2021 in London, England.

Drill rapper DigDat guilty of attempted murder over drive-by shooting in which victim ‘lucky not to die’

Nicholas Prosper was caught on CCTV buying a gun in a car park

Moment killer smirks after buying shotgun in car park hours before he murdered family at home

Vladimir Putin laid out demands for a ceasefire in Ukraine following a landmark phone call.

'Don't negotiate without Ukraine', Zelenskyy says after Putin's landmark call with Trump shows Russia 'not serious'

Rebecca Burke

British tourist held in US immigration detention centre for three weeks due to visa mix-up returns to UK

Fresh images of the remote Antarctica base at the centre of an assault allegation have emerged after the crew begged for rescue.

Inside the Antarctic base at centre of assault mystery as crew plead for rescue

Netflix's new show Adolescence explore themes such as misogyny, online radicalisation and the influence of figures such as Andrew Tate

‘There will be more’: Ex-social worker warns of rise of misogyny-fuelled violence following release of Netflix’s Adolescence

"America", a fully-working solid gold toilet, created by artist Maurizio Cattelan at Blenheim Palace

The Great Drain Robbery: Gang guilty of stealing £4.8m gold toilet from Blenheim Palace

Trump and Putin have been locked in a call for over an hour

Trump-Putin talks ‘going well’ as world leaders locked in call on Ukraine war for over an hour

Exclusive
The scene on the Strand in the aftermath of the crash

Witness tells of horror after 'panicked and frozen' van driver ploughed into pedestrians, killing woman in her 20s

Ellis Matthews, 32, is currently being held at a centre for mothers with children with her four-year-old son.

British expat who ‘lied’ about claiming benefits ‘goes on hunger strike’ in Thai prison

Paul Butler admitted the murder of Claire Chick

Man admits murdering university lecturer in street in Plymouth

The Stena Immaculate crew have been praised for their 'exceptional bravery'

Tanker owners release first picture of crew and hail their 'exceptional bravery’