Met Police accused of leaking names of betting scandal Tories
The Metropolitan Police has been accused of leaking the identities of Tories implicated in the general election betting scandal.
A source close to the Cabinet Office said there was suspicion that the identities of Conservative candidates and officials had been leaked from within Scotland Yard.
While the identities of Tories accused of placing bets were made public, the identities and extent of the alleged involvement of police officers had been less obvious.
A further five police officers are said to be currently under investigation by the Gambling Commission for placing bets on the date of the general election.
The Metropolitan Police has been accused of leaking the identities of Tories implicated in the general election betting scandal
PA
The party source told the Telegraph: "We know that the Met was made aware of the election date in advance of it being called by Rishi. We are also pretty sure these leaks are not coming from the Gambling Commission.
“But the commission has passed on names to the police of people suspected of betting irregularities and we believe that the identities are going into the public domain after that has happened.”
The source added: “The commission is telling the Met and then almost instantly these names are finding their way to journalists. The suspicion very much is it’s the Met [that’s leaking].”
One of the Prime Minister's close protection officers was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over alleged bets placed on the timing of the election.
The scandal has engulfed his party over the past week, with the party’s chief data officer, Nick Mason, and campaigning director, Tony Lee, both having taken leaves of absence after being implicated.
Lee’s wife, Tory candidate Laura Saunders, is also under investigation by the Gambling Commission.
The Gambling Commission, the police and the Conservative Party are all understood to be looking into claims that several figures with links to the Tories or Number 10 placed bets on the date of the General Election shortly before Sunak announced his plans last month.
Northern Ireland minister Steve Baker said placing bets on the election date was “disreputable” and he would have suspended anyone who had done so.
Speaking to ITV yesterday, Baker said: “I would call them up and ask them, ‘Did you do it?’ And if they did it, then they are suspended.
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“But the Prime Minister would have to answer why he hasn’t done it, I haven’t got inside information on why the Prime Minister hasn’t done it.”
A spokesman for the Gambling Commission said: “We cannot comment in this case when information was passed over to the police.”
In a statement, a Met Police spokesman said: “The allegations that the Met has leaked information are simply untrue.
"We continue to liaise with the Gambling Commission and are assessing information they have provided."