Accusations considered in election date betting scandal

Up to five people, possibly including a politician, could face investigation over the betting scandal over the course of the general election, Sky News has revealed.

A source told Sky News: “The Gambling Commission wants to prosecute at least three suspects, but possibly up to five. This includes a politician and a close protection officer.”

While it is understood that the commission is not yet at the stage of making a statement, a spokesperson said that the commission will not comment on the ongoing investigation.

“We clearly appreciate the level of public interest in this ongoing investigation,” a commission spokesman told Sky News.

“However, in order to maintain the integrity of the investigation and ensure a fair outcome, we are unable to comment further at this time, including the names of any individuals who may be suspects or the total number of suspects.

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The investigation is investigating whether people bet on the July 4 election based on insider information in the days before then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak came to power. Shocking announcement that early elections will be held on May 22.

The election date claim scandal began in June when Craig Williams, a former MP for Montgomeryshire and Mr Sunak’s parliamentary private secretary, accused the former MP of Montgomeryshire and Mr Sunak. He admitted that he was being investigated by the Gambling Commission.

Mr Williams had placed a £100 bet on the July election at Ladbrokes in his constituency just days before Mr Sunak’s announcement. At the rates at the time he would have earned £500.

“I got excited about the general election a few weeks ago,” he said in a June 13 post on X. “This has resulted in some routine investigations and I confirm that I will cooperate fully with them.”

Then, just a week before election day, Sky News reported that Mr Sunak’s Downing Street chief of staff Liam Booth-Smith was being questioned by the commission. The legal body that regulates betting in the UK, not as suspects but as witnesses.

Eight weeks ago during the Conservative Party Conference Sky News reported that the former deputy prime minister Sir Oliver Dowden was Mr Sunak’s most senior ally interviewed as part of the official inquiry..

Both Mr Booth-Smith and Sir Oliver were examined as witnesses.

In late August, the Metropolitan Police announced that its detectives had completed their role in the ongoing criminal investigation, although the Gambling Commission’s investigation was ongoing.

The Commission’s investigation is into whether the bets placed breached Section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005 (Cheating). The Met was likely investigating whether other offenses such as Misconduct in Public Office would also apply.

The Met said that, based on an assessment of the evidence and advice from the Crown Prosecution Service, it was determined that the high bar for proof for Misconduct in Public Office was not met.

Making the statement, Detective Superintendent Katherine Goodwin said: “These allegations caused a significant decline in public confidence during the election campaign and it was right that they were investigated to investigate any possible wrongdoing.

“While our involvement in the criminal investigation has now come to an end, it is important that this is not misinterpreted as an all-clear for those whose cases are being investigated.

“There are still Gambling Act offenses that need to be considered and it would be appropriate for these to be dealt with by the Gambling Commission’s inspectors with particular expertise in this area.

“The seven police officers who allegedly engaged in betting are among those being investigated by the Gambling Commission. An investigation by the Met’s Professional Standards Directorate is also ongoing.”

On 23 August, the day the Met announced, Gambling Commission chairman Andrew Rhodes said: “We have remained focused on our criminal investigation into the use of confidential information to gain an unfair advantage when betting on the date of the general meeting election.”

“Our investigation continues to progress and we have interviewed a number of suspects in a discreet manner. We continue to gather more documentary and electronic evidence, as well as interview some of the witnesses who are cooperating in this criminal investigation.”

On Monday 17 June, an officer attached to the Royal and Specialist Protection Command was arrested on suspicion of Misconduct in Public Office and was later released on bail.

No further action is taken against him regarding the crime in question.

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