Laura Saunders, a Conservative candidate in Bristol North West, is under investigation by the Gambling Commission after being accused of placing a bet on the timing of the general election. Her husband, Tony Lee, who is the Conservative Party’s director of campaigning, is also being investigated for a related bet. It is unclear when the bets were placed or for how much money. Saunders has confirmed she is cooperating with the investigation, but has also suggested she may take legal action against the BBC, which first made the story public.
According to a BBC spokesperson: “We are confident in our journalism… As Laura Saunders is a candidate standing for election, it is clearly in the public interest to report allegations made against her.” The Labour and Liberal Democrat parties have called for the Conservative group to suspend both Saunders and Craig Williams, another Conservative candidate who placed a £100 bet on a July election three days before it was announced. Williams has apologised for his actions, describing the bet as a “huge error of judgement”.
On Wednesday it emerged that a police officer working as part of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s close protection team had been arrested for betting on the timing of the election. The Met was contacted by the Gambling Commission, which is carrying out an investigation into possible offences concerning the date of the election. The officer has been bailed while further inquiries are made.
If a person uses confidential information to gain an unfair advantage when betting, they may commit a criminal offence under Section 42 of the Gambling Act. The Conservative Party spokesman has said that the Party has been contacted by the Gambling Commission about “a small number of individuals”, but would not say any more with regard to the issue.
The Gambling Commission regulates gambling on behalf of consumers and the wider public, but has declined to comment further on the ongoing investigation
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