The betting watchdog has passed information to police alleging five more Met officers put money on the date of the election before it was announced, it was revealed today.
The Gambling Commission’s move came after Rishi Sunak suspended two Tory candidates caught up in the scandal over wagers on the vote being held in July.
Craig Williams and Laura Saunders will no longer be ‘supported’ by the party ‘as a result of ongoing internal enquiries’ by the Conservative Party.
One of Mr Sunak’s close protection officers has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, but the latest individuals are not part of the same team.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: ‘It is still the case that only one officer is under criminal investigation. We have, however, been passed information from the Gambling Commission alleging that five further officers have placed bets related to the timing of the election.’
It came as Mr Williams this afternoon admitted he had ‘committed an error of judgment, not an offence’ and vowed to clear his name and win election in his Welsh seat.
Rishi Sunak today moved to suspend two Tory candidates after allegations of betting on the election date
Tory candidate in Bristol West, Laura Saunders (pictured, left) and her husband and the party’s director of campaigning, Tony Lee (pictured, right) are accused of making bets on the election
The highest profile person caught up in the scandal is Rishi Sunak’s top parliamentary aide Craig Williams (pictured)
In a video statement the candidate in Montgomeryshire and and Glyndwr said: ‘I am committed to my campaign to be elected as your Member of Parliament and your staunch champion.’
Scotland Yard said the five officers newly implicated in the scandal were from the Royalty and Specialist Command, the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command and the Central West Basic Command Unit. None of them work in a close protection role as a political bodyguard.
Announcing support was being withdrawn from the candidates earlier, a Conservative spokesman said: ‘As a result of ongoing internal enquiries, we have concluded that we can no longer support Craig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.
‘We have checked with the Gambling Commission that this decision does not compromise the investigation that they are conducting, which is rightly independent and ongoing.’
The move comes after Northern Ireland minister Steve Baker broke ranks to criticise the PM’s response, saying he would have been tougher on alleged ‘disreputable’ behaviour.
Mr Williams, Mr Sunak’s former parliamentary aide and the candidate in Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr, has admitted to a ‘huge error of judgment’ in placing ‘a flutter’ on the election date
Laura Saunders is a candidate in Bristol North West and the wife of the party’s director of campaigns Tony Lee.
Because nominations have closed, Mr Williams and Ms Saunders will both still be on the ballot paper.
The party’s chief data officer, Nick Mason, is also being probed and denies wrongdoing.
Mr Sunak had insisted only yesterday that it was ‘proper’ to wait for the outcome of investigations by the Gambling Commission, the police and the Conservative Party itself.
Keir Starmer swiped: ‘Why didn’t that happen a week ago?’
The developments emerged after Scotland Yard flatly denied being the source of leaks about betting probes, which have been threatening to send the Conservative election campaign deeper into turmoil.
The use of confidential information to gain unfair advantage when betting may constitute a criminal offence of cheating under section 42 of the Gambling Act.
Those convicted face an unlimited fine or up to two years in jail.
Mr Sunak has previously said he is ‘incredibly angry’ about the allegations, vowing to ‘boot out’ anyone found to have broken trust.
Speaking on ITV’s Peston show last night, Mr Baker said: ‘I would call them up and ask them, ‘Did you do it?’ And if they did it, then they are suspended.
‘But the Prime Minister would have to answer why he hasn’t done it, I haven’t got inside information on why the Prime Minister hasn’t done it.’
Mr Baker was joining other Conservatives such as former defence minister Tobias Ellwood in calling for the suspension of the four Tories alleged to have placed bets on the election date.
The Tories have been trying to turn to the issue of immigration in an attempt to make a dent in Labour’s persistently large poll lead.
Home Secretary James Cleverly and his Labour opposite number Yvette Cooper went head-to-head in a debate on immigration on LBC.
The party’s chief data officer Nick Mason (pictured) is also being investigated and denies wrongdoing
