Rishi Sunak has said he is not aware of “any other” Conservative election applicants who are being investigated by the Gambling Commission over alleged betting during the general election.
He revealed that his party was dismantling its own personal internal investigation “in parallel” with the investigation into playing fees.
The commission has not said who it is investigating but so far the names of four Conservatives have emerged – two of whom are up for election.
Mr Sunak has come under pressure from opposition parties as well as some in his own party to suspend both candidates.
Conservative Tobias Ellwood said the story was “extremely unhelpful” and that people wanted “drastic action”.
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “Rishi Sunak needs to show some leadership. If this were my candidate, I tell you – he would be gone. His feet wouldn’t touch the ground.”
He dismissed the internal investigation of the Conservative celebration as “designed for one purpose, which is to get it to the other side of the election”.
Defending the Prime Minister, Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris informed BBC News that “he is not guilty until proven innocent” and that regulators would be allowed to “continue to investigate”. .
Allegations of tampering with electoral fortunes first emerged following the incident against Craig Williams – one of the Prime Minister’s closest aides, who allegedly spent £100 on July voting week, three days before election day. Had placed a bet of 100. ,
Mr Williams – who has a reputation for supporting the Conservatives in Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr – informed the BBC that he had made “a huge error of judgement”, but refused to mention whether he made any gamble based on the knowledge Was.
If someone uses undisclosed information to gain an unfair advantage when placing a bet, it is usually a criminal offense under Category 42 of Gambling Function.
Laura Saunders, the Conservative candidate for Bristol North West, and her husband Tony Lee, the Conservative director of election campaigning, and Nick Mason, the party’s chief information officer, are also under investigation.
Mr Mason’s spokesman said he denied wrongdoing. Both Mr Mason and Mr Lee have taken a leave of absence from their celebratory ceremonies.
BBC understands inquiries into playing fees Involve additional communities So far, the focus has been on publicly nominated people and the alternative community associated with the party of the federal government.
Speaking to reporters in Edinburgh, Mr Sunak said he did not have details of the Playing Commission investigation but that his party was conducting its own “internal investigation”.
He said he would “act on any relevant findings” and take the knowledge toward charges.
He also confirmed that he himself was not under investigation and that he had never gambled in politics while he was an MP.
On Monday night, Harry Cole, political writer for the Sun newspaper, pressed the Prime Minister once again on the subject, asking if he could question those he had briefed on the future of the election before it was announced. . ,
Mr Sunak said he did not want to “compromise the integrity” of the alternative inquiry, although he added: “I am absolutely clear – if anyone has broken the rules they will not only face the full consequences of the law, but they will Will be thrown out.” Of the Conservative Party.”
Last week, Mr Ellwood, the Conservative candidate in Bournemouth East, said the scandal was “deeply dysfunctional”.
Asked whether Mr Sunak would have to seek Conservative backup from Mr Williams and Ms Saunders, Mr Ellwood said: “As we see it now, the size of it and the potential for this story to eclipse the election Looking at it, I’ll now agree.
“The public now wants to see clear tough action.”
Conservative peer and former minister Joe Johnson told the BBC’s Newsnight that there was “immense disappointment” among Tory applicants and activists that the story was still “rubbing in” because “Number 10 has not managed to get to the bottom of it”.
He called on the PM to expedite “strong action”.
He added, “Clearly no one can understand why those people were not suspended where other people in comparable situations could have been suspended.”
Broad Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: “I think the Conservative Party can do much more.
“It seems to me, as has been the case consistently in this Parliament, that they appear to be in it for themselves and no longer as a carrier of the people.”
On Sunday, Labour’s election coordinator Pat McFadden wrote to the Gambling Commission urging “people to present the names of alternative figures” under investigation.
In a reply seen by the BBC, the regulator’s chief executive Andrew Rhodes said: “We understand the desire for information to protect the integrity of the investigation and ensure an excellent and fair outcome. “I am not able to comment on the issue, including the identity of any person who is under suspicion.”
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