Tory Philip Davies ‘made £8,000 wager’ he’d lose his seat at General Election

A senior Tory placed an £8,000 bet on him losing his seat, it was claimed tonight.

Sir Philip Davies, a long-time supporter of the gambling industry, is said to have wagered he’d be defeated in his Shipley seat, where he’s defending a 6,242 majority. Approached by the Sun, Sir Philip said: “What’s it go to do with you whether I did or didn’t.”

He added: “I hope to win. I’m busting a gut to win. I expect to lose. In the 2005 election, I busted a gut to win. I expected to lose. I had a bet on myself to lose in the 2005 election, and my bet went down the pan.

“My comment will be whether I have or haven’t, it’s nobody’s business apart from mine. And if anyone’s alleging I’ve done anything illegal, they’re very welcome to allege it, but I’m afraid I haven’t.”

Keir Starmer today said he has never placed a bet on politics and accused Tories embroiled in the gambling scandal of having “their fingers in the till”.

As many as 15 Conservative candidates and officials are now being investigated over the election betting scandal, it has been claimed. The Gambling Commission has widened its probe into claims people cheated by placing bets on the date of polling day, with five Tory figures already identified as being looked at.

Rishi Sunak finally dropped two Westminster candidates caught up in the row on Tuesday – his parliamentary aide Craig Williams, who is standing in Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr, and Bristol North West candidate Laura Saunders. Two other officials, campaigns chief Tony Lee and data officer Nick Mason, are also being looked at by the watchdog, along with Russell George, a Tory Senedd member, who represents the same constituency as Mr Williams.

But Labour has also been drawn into the row after it was forced to drop Central Suffolk and North Ipswich candidate Kevin Craig, who bet against himself in the General Election.