Election latest: Chart shows surge in election date bets day before Sunak announced it (2024)

Allegations Tory candidates placed bets on the election date ahead of the announcement are "really not helpful," says the Conservative business minister Kevin Hollinrake.

Mr Hollinrake was asked about the scandal by our chief political correspondent Jon Craig.

Asked if he placed a bet, Mr Hollinrake says: "No I didn't, and I'm appalled to hear what's gone on in terms of other people doing that.

"It's obviously completely inappropriate and needs to be investigated."

He adds: "These allegations are really serious, and they're really not helpful."

Jon also spoke to Jonathan Ashworth, Labour's shadow paymaster general, ahead of tonight's interviews with the leaders of the four major parties in the UK.

Speaking about what we can expect, Mr Ashworth joked: "What we won't get is Sir Keir Starmer saying he's just been down the bookies placing bets on when the election debate will be, but I think there are questions for Rishi Sunak tonight.

"He has to come clean and tell us who knew about this election date. Has he asked his staff, his MPs, his cabinet ministers, whether any of them placed bets?

"It's insider trading. It's a scandal."

All bets are off as Rishi Sunak prepares to face a live TV audience amid dire opinion polls and a new cronyism scandal.

The polls are suggesting a Tory wipeout on 4 July and his campaign chief has been forced to flee the party’s HQ over allegations his wife - a Conservative candidate - bet on the election date.

Ominously for the PM, both the polls and the betting scandal could get worse. Tory support in opinion polls continues to fall and gambling industry sources are expecting "more names" to emerge.

The format of tonight's two-hour BBC Question Time programme at York University is a half-hour grilling from a live audience for Sir Ed Davey, John Swinney, Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Sunak, in that order.

On gambling, the Lib Dem leader is already demanding a Cabinet Office inquiry, while the Labour leader says Tory candidate Laura Saunders - wife of the party's campaign chief Tony Lee - should be suspended.

We can expect more attacks on the PM's handling of the scandal from the three opposition leaders. Mr Sunak, meanwhile, will be challenged on the allegations of corruption and cronyism for the first time.

That's because he's made no public appearances on the day of this latest TV showdown with voters.

Sir Keir, on the other hand, did some campaigning in York ahead of the TV programme. That's what party leaders usually do ahead of these programmes, campaign near the venue for their TV appearance.

We know from last week's Sky News Battle For Number 10 event in Grimsby that a TV audience can be feisty and unforgiving when confronting a party leader pleading for their votes in an election.

At times, Mr Sunak looked crestfallen, as if the row over his D-Day snub to veterans in Normandy had badly damaged confidence and morale.

But we also know Mr Sunak is capable of coming out fighting against Sir Keir, as he did in the first TV debate of the campaign, launching the £2,000 Labour tax grab onslaught that has dominated Tory attacks.

So faced with the twin nightmares of horrendous opinion polls and a betting scandal that could yet get much, much worse, which Mr Sunak will turn up to do battle with his opponents?

All bets are off.

We'll have live updates and analysis from the programme, starting at 8pm, here in the Politics Hub.

As Sophy outlined, the election campaign has been waylaid by a betting scandal engulfing the Conservative Party.

Two Tory candidates are being investigated by the Gambling Commission over alleged wagers placed on the date of the 4 July contest.

And more political figures are being looked into over bets placed on the election date, a gambling industry source has told Sky News.

It risks throwingRishi Sunak'scampaign into further turmoil after it emerged Laura Saunders, the Tory candidate for Bristol North West, is being looked into by the watchdog.

She has worked for the party since 2015 and is married to the Conservative Party's director of campaigns, Tony Lee.

Mr Lee "took a leave of absence" from his role on Wednesday night, a Conservative Party spokesman told Sky News.

It is not known how much money Ms Saunders placed or when the bet was made.

In a statement on Thursday afternoon, she said she will be "cooperating with the Gambling Commission" investigation.

It comes a week after the PM's close parliamentary aideCraig Williams, the Tory candidate in Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr, was revealed to have placed a bet on a July election date three days before it was official.

Read more from our political reporter Alix Culbertson:

If I was going to make a bet on the general election, I wouldn't have put any money on this.

The Tory party's director of campaigning taking a leave of absence from his job over an alleged bet made by his wife on the timing of the election.

Oh, and she also happens to be a Conservative candidate.

There's not much I can say at the moment with an investigation ongoing.

But… what on Earth is happening?

Just when you think this election campaign couldn't get any more ridiculous… it does.

Our weeknight politics showPolitics Hub With Sophy Ridgeis live now on Sky News.

The fast-paced programme dissects the inner workings of Westminster, with interviews, insights, and analysis - bringing you, the audience, into the corridors of power.

Tonight features Sophy's second interview with party leaders, this time we've gotAdrian Ramsayfrom the Greens.

Ourchief political correspondentJon Craigwill also be catching up with Tory and Labour candidates ahead of the BBC's Question Time special, which will feature Rishi Sunak, Keir Starmer, Ed Davey, and John Swinney.

And on Sophy's panel tonight are:

• Mick Lynch, RMT general secretary;
• Tim Montgomerie, founder of Conservative Home.

Watch live on Sky News, in the stream at the top of this page, and follow live updates here in the Politics Hub.

WatchPolitics Hub With Sophy Ridgefrom Monday to Thursday on Sky channel 501, Virgin channel 602, Freeview channel 233, on theSky News websiteandappor onYouTube.

Our weeknight politics showPolitics Hub With Sophy Ridgewill be live on Sky News from 7pm.

The fast-paced programme dissects the inner workings of Westminster, with interviews, insights, and analysis - bringing you, the audience, into the corridors of power.

Tonight features Sophy's second interview with party leaders, this time we've got Adrian Ramsay from the Greens.

Our chief political correspondent Jon Craig will also be catching up with Tory and Labour candidates ahead of the BBC's Question Time special, which will feature Rishi Sunak, Keir Starmer, Ed Davey, and John Swinney.

And on Sophy's panel tonight are:

• Mick Lynch, RMT general secretary;
• Tim Montgomerie, founder of Conservative Home.

Watch live on Sky News, in the stream at the top of this page, and follow live updates here in the Politics Hub.

WatchPolitics Hubfrom 7pm every night during the election campaign on Sky channel 501, Virgin channel 602, Freeview channel 233, on theSky News websiteandappor onYouTube.

This graph shows a huge surge of bets on a July election placed on the day before Rishi Sunak made his announcement.

It uses Betfair data to show the amount of money bet in the days prior to Mr Sunak's speech.

Following the news that more names are set to emerge in relation to the election date betting scandal, here is a quick summary of what we know so far:

Today

It emerged overnight that Laura Saunders, the Tory candidate for Bristol North West, is facing an investigation by the Gambling Commission.

Ms Saunders is married to Tony Lee, who is the party's director of campaigns.

The Gambling Commission has not commented on individual cases.

But it said today that "currently the commission is investigating the possibility of offences concerning the date of the election".

The Conservative Party said they had been contacted by the commission about a "small number" of individuals.

Ms Saunders' solicitor later said on her behalf that she"will be cooperating with the Gambling Commission" investigation, but added she is "considering legal action against the BBC" and other outlets "who infringe her privacy rights".

Read more and see the full list of candidates for Bristol North West here:

Sky News understands more names are set to emerge in relation to the election date betting scandal.

A gambling industry source said: "Yes to more names. Cops not involved."

Yesterday

It emerged that one of Mr Sunak's close protection police officers had been arrested over alleged bets on the timing of the election.

Sky News understands several bets were placed, with at least one of them being a three-figure sum.

Read more on this story here:

Last week

Craig Williams, a close parliamentary aide of Rishi Sunak, admitted to placing a "flutter" on the date of the election "weeks ago".

This is reported to have happened just before the prime minister surprised many by calling a vote for 4 July, with Mr Williams said to have staked a £100.

The Conservative Party said it was a personal matter.

Mr Williams is the party's candidate for Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr.

Read more and see the full list of candidates for the seat here:

Laura Saunders, the Conservative candidate who is facing a probe over allegedly betting on the timing of the election has said she is "considering legal action".

Ms Saunders "will be cooperating with the Gambling Commission" investigation, her solicitor said on her behalf.

They added that she is "considering legal action against the BBC" and other outlets "who infringe her privacy rights".

The statement said: "It is inappropriate to conduct any investigation of this kind via the media, and doing so risks jeopardising the work of the Gambling Commission and the integrity of its investigation.

"The publication of the BBC's story is premature and is a clear infringement of Ms Saunders' privacy rights.

"She is considering legal action against the BBC and any other publishers who infringe her privacy rights."

We're gearing up for a busy evening for the Politics Hub.

We'll have our show with Sophy Ridge from 7pm and then from 8pm the leaders of the four biggest political parties in the UK will take part in a BBC Question Time leaders special.

But before that, here are the main things you need to know:

• Rishi Sunak's campaign has been thrown into fresh turmoil just two weeks before polling day over allegations of betting on the date of the election;
• The Gambling Commission has said it's considering launching an investigation into a "small number of people";
• Laura Saunders is the second Conservative candidate to trigger scrutiny from the watchdog, and says she will co-operate with the investigation but is "considering legal action" against the BBC;
• Ms Saunders is married to Tony Lee - the Conservative director of campaigns - with reports that he as well faces a probe after going on leave from CCHQ;
• And Sky News understands more names are set to emerge.
  

• Elsewhere, Northern Ireland's Alliance Party has published its general election manifesto, featuring reform of Stormont's devolved structures as a key objective;
• And the Scottish Greens have launched their manifesto too, outlining plans for a wealth tax on the richest people in the UK.

• Coming up this evening, there is a BBC Question Time leaders special;
• Rishi Sunak, Sir Keir Starmer, Sir Ed Davey and John Swinney are all taking part, with Fiona Bruce hosting;
• The leaders will have 30 minutes each to answer questions from the audience, and we'll have live updates here from 8pm;
• Before that, from 7pmPolitics Hub With Sophy Ridge will feature a full-length interview with Green Party leaderAdrian Ramsay;
• It is the latest in a series of interrogations - with all party chiefs set to feature over the last few weeks of the campaign.