Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been accused of lacking leadership and failing to get a grip on the General Election betting scandal that has infested the party with just 10 days to go until polling day.
It comes as one ex-Tory whip said the betting allegations showed there “appears to be no leadership from the top” as the crisis deepened over the weekend. A fifth person linked to Mr Sunak – the party’s chief data officer Nick Mason – was told he was part of an investigation by the Gambling Commission.
Mr Mason has since taken a leave of absence from Tory HQ amid allegations over alleged wagers on when the election would be held. A spokesperson for Mr Mason denied any wrongdoing in an interview with The Sunday Times. Four other people – the Conservatives’ campaign chief, two candidates and a police protection officer – are also being investigated.
Further reports on Sunday that more people linked to either the Government or Conservative Party are being investigated. The Commission has declined to comment. Labour’s National Campaign Coordinator Pat McFadden said it was in the public interest to make names of any other figures under investigation public.
“There will be particular interest in whether any government ministers bet on the date of the election before it was called,” he said. Mr Sunak has so far refused to suspend any officials and candidates linked to the allegations despite growing calls from Labour leader Keir Starmer.
Rishi Sunak’s majority in his own seat set to crumble as Tories fear election wipeout
Rishi Sunak’s majority in his own seat is set to crumble at the General Election, a new poll shows
It comes as the Tories fear a wipeout at the ballot box on July 4 with polls pointing to a huge Labour landslide after 14 years of Conservative rule. Last week a mega-survey suggested Mr Sunak could become the first sitting Prime Minister to lose his seat at a General Election – with the Tories reduced to just 53 seats.
A new constituency poll shows the Tory leader clinging on to the seat – but with a massively reduced vote share – in what would be a bruising result. Mr Sunak was last elected with a thumping majority of 27,210 votes in the traditionally safe seat of Richmond in Yorkshire at the 2019 General Election.
Read more: Rishi Sunak’s majority in his own seat set to crumble as Tories fear election wipeout
Tories have ‘no leadership from top’ as General Election betting scandal deepens
Rishi Sunak has been accused of failing to grip the election date betting scandal engulfing his party just 11 days out from the General Election.
One ex-Tory whip said the allegations showed there “appears to be no leadership from the top” as the crisis deepened over the weekend. It emerged a fifth person linked to the Prime Minister – the party’s chief data officer Nick Mason – was told he’s part of an investigation by the Gambling Commission.
He has taken a leave of absence from Tory HQ amid allegations over alleged wagers on the election date. A spokesman for Mr Mason denied wrongdoing to The Sunday Times. Four other people – the party’s campaign chief, two candidates and a police protection officer – are also being looked into.
There were also reports on Sunday other individuals linked to either the Government or Conservative Party are being investigated – but the Commission declined to comment.
Read more: Tories have ‘no leadership from top’ as General Election betting scandal deepens