Rishi Sunak is under growing pressure to personally intervene as the election betting scandal was likened to Partygate.
Last night it emerged that Nick Mason, the party’s chief data officer, had taken a leave of absence over alleged wagers on the date of the election. The Gambling Commission is already investigating two candidates – Mr Sunak’s aide Craig Williams and Bristol North West candidate Laura Saunders – and director of campaigns Tony Lee.
On top of that, an officer in Mr Sunak’s police protection team was arrested and suspended over an allegation he’d placed a bet on the election date. On Friday Mr Sunak refused to rule out members of his cabinet being embroiled in the probe. Michael Gove, who is not standing, likened the scandal to Partygate as the Conservative election campaign gets dragged further into crisis.
Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: “This is now an all-out scandal at the heart of Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party. Sunak must personally intervene to order a Cabinet Office inquiry and suspend all those under investigation by the Gambling Commission.
“People are sick and tired of this sleaze. Day by day, hour by hour, the Conservative Government mire themselves in more of it.”
Housing Secretary Mr Gove told The Sunday Times: “It looks like one rule for them and one rule for us. That’s the most potentially damaging thing.” He went on: “That was damaging at the time of Partygate and is damaging here.”
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He went on to say it was “just not acceptable” for those in a “privileged position” to use “inside information to make additional money for yourself”.
He added: “You are, in effect, securing an advantage against other people who are betting entirely fairly and without that knowledge. So if these allegations are true, it’s very difficult to defend.”
Ms Saunders has vowed to fully co-operate with the investigation. And Mr Williams, who was the Prime Minister’s parliamentary private secretary and is the candidate for Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr, has admitted to putting “a flutter” on the date of the election.
Mr Sunak faces calls to suspend the candidates at the heart of the probe – which he has so far refused to do. A Labour spokesperson described the latest allegations as “utterly extraordinary” and called for Mr Sunak to suspend those implicated in the betting scandal.
A Conservative spokesman said: “As instructed by the Gambling Commission, we are not permitted to discuss any matters related to any investigation with the subject or any other persons.”
The Gambling Commission said: “Currently the commission is investigating the possibility of offences concerning the date of the election. This is an ongoing investigation, and the commission cannot provide any further details at this time.
“We are not confirming or denying the identity of any individuals involved in this investigation.”