Election latest: Multiple Conservative candidates 'facing investigation by gambling watchdog' (2024)

We reported earlier that the Conservative Party has been contacted by the Gambling Commission over "a small number" of individuals.

This follows reports thatCraig Williams, an aide of the prime minister, was facing a probe over allegedly gambling on the date of the election.

Sky News understands a second person - Laura Saunders, the Tory candidate for Bristol North West - is also one of those the watchdog is considering.

Speaking to Sky News this morning, Housing Secretary Michael Gove said he was aware of two people facing investigations.

This follows separate news yesterday that one of Mr Sunak's close protection officers was arrested and suspended over alleged bets on the election date.

Also standing in Bristol North West:

• Caroline Gooch, Liberal Democrats;

• Darren Jones, Labour;

• Scarlett O'Connor, Reform UK;

• Mary Page, Green;

• Laura Saunders, Conservative;

• Ben Smith, SDP.

By Jason Farrell, home editor

Even the world of escapism can't escape politics.

Decisions made on the green benches of parliament could be life or death for the circus. Like many businesses, it is walking the wire between rising costs and cash-strapped audiences.

As part of our Bench Across Britain series we visited a circus tent in south Leicestershire where punters try to forget the world for an hour or so - only to be confronted by Sky News, asking them about the general election.

First, we spoke to the performers: high wire walker Ksenia Archer literally dropped in on our bench while still attached to her safety harness.

"Our costs have gone up miles high," she said.

"Unfortunately, our customers' costs have gone up as well. We've not been able to increase ticket prices - they have had to go down, to ensure we get any customers at all."

She added: "The circus was invented in England - it's over 250 years old. But unless we get support we will be slowly dying out."

Read Jason's full story below:

Michael Gove, who is speaking to Sky News, is asked about the series of polls yesterday that all forecast a Tory wipe-out.

Mr Gove says they do not make "cheery reading" for his party - but insists it can turn it around.

"The opinion polls, as I acknowledged and as we both know, they're not great," he says.

"But it's not the 90th minute, you know, we're not in Fergie time yet.

"So there is still an opportunity."

Asked about reports Boris Johnson might make a return to try and be Conservative Party leader at the 2029 election, Mr Gove says this is "so far in the future" and he wants "Rishi Sunak to be prime minister".

Michael Gove is speaking to Sky News this morning.

The housing secretary is asked about the potential Gambling Commission investigations into Conservative Party candidates.

Mr Gove says: "I know that there are two people who are now subject to this process, I think, from the Gambling Commission."

He adds that a police officer is being subject to a "sort of parallel process".

The minister - who is not standing for reelection - says it is "deeply disturbing" that people may have been betting on the date of an election being called.

But, he say,s it is the "exception rather than the rule".

Mr Gove, however, says he does not want to pre-empt the process by giving a running commentary on it.

We've just been given the date for when Boris Johnson's memoirs from his time in Downing Street will be released.

William Collins Books, part of HarperCollins, says the book will be coming out on 10 October this year.

The Gambling Commission is considering investigating multiple Tory candidates, according to the Conservative Party.

It was reported last week that Craig Williams, an aide of the prime minister, was facing a probe over allegedly gambling on the date of the election.

Rishi Sunak took people by surprise when he called the vote for 4 July.

After reports of a second candidate being looked into by the Gambling Commission over similar claims, a Conservative Party spokesperson said: "We have been contacted by the Gambling Commission about a small number of individuals.

"As the Gambling Commission is an independent body, it wouldn't be proper to comment further, until any processisconcluded."

This follows the news yesterdaythat one of Mr Sunak's close protection officers was arrested and suspended over alleged bets on the election date.

Welcome back to the Politics Hub.

Yesterday a string of polls, which made damning reading for the government, were published - with some suggesting the Conservative Party could fall below 100 seats.

YouGov's MRP poll, carried out in conjunction with Sky News, shows Labour are on course for a 200-seat majority - with the Tories down to 108.

Housing secretary Michael Gove - who is not standing in the election - will be speaking to Sky News just after 7am.

Shadow housing minister Matthew Pennycook will be on for Labour just after 8am.

Both parties want to talk about housing today - with the Tories saying Labour are not matching their pledges on housebuilding.

The Opposition has attacked the government over their record on mortgage rates.

Thank you for following our coverage of the day's political events.

See our 10pm bulletin for the key points from today.

Join us again tomorrow from 7am for the latest updates.

Earlier, YouGov pollsters asked 2,238 people how they felt about various party leaders - and who would make the prime minister.

In a series of head to heads, Sir Keir Starmer came ahead of all the other leaders.

He beat Rishi Sunak by 41 points to 21 points, Nigel Farage by 50 points to 25, and Sir Ed Davey by 40 points to 14.

The rest of the 100% in each case was made up by "don't knows".

Out of the other match-ups, Mr Farage came second in them all - and Mr Sunak lost out to Sir Ed.

The grim news for the Tories in the latest Sky News/YouGov poll begs another question about Rishi Sunak's political judgement. Was a long election campaign a blunder?

The prime minister is already under fire from Conservative MPs and activists for gambling on an election in July rather than waiting for October or November.

The conventional wisdom was that economic news would be better by the autumn and deportation flights to Rwanda would help stop the boats bringing migrants across the Channel.

But as well as doubts about a July poll, the big slump in Tory support since the last Sky News/YouGov poll on 3 June, suggests a long campaign of six weeks may also have backfired.

On 22 May, the day the prime minister made his shock general election announcement, some veteran Tory MPs privately questioned Mr Sunak's decision to fight a long campaign.

But with the Tories trailing badly behind Labour in the polls for months, Mr Sunak clearly hoped a long election campaign would give his party more time to recover and close the gap.

However, the opposite appears to have happened. As the campaign continues, with polling day still two weeks away, opinion polls are suggesting bigger Conservative losses, not smaller.

Read the full analysis here...