Conservative Party withdraws support from candidates in election betting probe
Britain’s ruling Conservative Party said Tuesday it had withdrawn support from two parliamentary candidates “as a result of ongoing internal enquiries,” relating to alleged bets placed on the timing of a July 4 national election.
Britain’s ruling Conservative Party said Tuesday it had withdrawn support from two parliamentary candidates “as a result of ongoing internal enquiries,” relating to alleged bets placed on the timing of a July 4 national election.
“As a result of ongoing internal enquiries, we have concluded that we can no longer support Craig Williams or Laura Saunders as Parliamentary Candidates at the forthcoming General Election,” said a spokesperson for the party, which polls predict is set to lose the vote.
Williams, a close aide to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, apologized earlier this month for placing a bet on when the election would happen.
Craig Williams will no longer have the support of the party.Matthew Horwood / Getty Images fileThe scandal escalated last week when media reported the country’s regulator, the Gambling Commission, was looking into allegations of improper betting by a second candidate, Saunders, and her husband Tony Lee, the party’s campaign director.
Lee has taken a leave of absence from his role.
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