Former deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden became the latest, and most senior, figure interviewed by the Gambling Commission. In further developments to the general election betting probe, broke the story that the former deputy PM voluntarily spoke to the Gambling Commission to help with their investigation.
Sir Oliver, knighted in former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s dissolution honours list moments before the polls closed in the July general election, didn’t place any bets on the election and there is no suspicion of any wrongdoing on his part.
The news breaks on the first day of the Conservative Party conference, but the meeting itself took place around three months ago, before the general election. The leak, timed to coincide with the start of the conference, follows the ongoing enquiry that gained momentum since its launch in June. Expectations are that the enquiry may continue for up to six more months.
Why is the Gambling Commission investigation taking place?
Beset by resignations and challenges, The Conservative Party’s general election campaign failed to take off. Economic issues, the strain on public services, key issues of immigration and housing, growing worldwide tensions, particularly in Gaza and Ukraine and healthcare, education and transport strikes contributed to the Conservative Party’s landslide defeat, the largest in their history.
Amidst this turmoil, allegations about gambling on the date of the general election enveloped the campaign. Shortly after this emerged, one of Prime Minister Sunak’s aides and senior party officials placed bets soon before the PM announced the date.
The Gambling Commission opened an investigation into whether this was ‘cheating’ and thus law breaking, while the Metropolitan Police opened a separate enquiry into whether any offences had been committed. It would be a breach of gambling rules if people with inside knowledge placed bets. However, last month, the Met announced their investigations didn’t meet the criteria for misconduct in public office.
Timeline of Tips
- An officer alleged to be a part of PM Sunak’s close protection team was arrested on discipline of misconduct in public office. The Met took no further action and later dropped this.
- It was alleged that seven other officers had also placed bets.
- Revelations that PM Sunak’s former parliamentary private secretary Craig Williams admitted to having a ‘flutter’ on the election date shortly before it was announced rocked the Conservative election campaign. A £100 bet, placed at Ladbrokes, would return a £500 bonanza if PM Sunak chose a July election date.
- Mr Williams, candidate for Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr along with another candidate for Bristol North West, Laura Saunders, who also allegedly placed a bet, lost support from the party.
- Tony Lee, husband of Ms Saunders and director of campaigning for the Conservatives, took leave of absence after being implicated in the scandal, as did chief data officer Nick Mason, who denied any wrongdoing.
- Russell George, a member of the Senedd, stepped down from the shadow cabinet in the Welsh Parliament following an investigation being launched against him.
- A Labour candidate, Kevin Craig, received a suspension following him betting against himself.
What next?
The Gambling Commission now has documents from Conservative Campaign Headquarters and has employed ex-police officers to investigate further.
Former Downing Street chief of staff Liam Booth-Smith, awarded a peerage in Mr Sunak’s dissolution honours list, also spoke to the official investigation in June.
Mr Sunak is still to be interviewed.
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