Rishi Sunak DROPS candidates involved in 'gamble-gate' scandal after Tories plunged into crisis

A Conservative Party spokesperson said: "As a result of ongoing internal enquiries, we have concluded that we can no longer support Craig Williams or Laura Saunders as parliamentary candidates at the forthcoming general election.

"We have checked with the Gambling Commission that this decision does not compromise the investigation that they are conducting, which is rightly independent and ongoing."

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.

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.

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.

Rishi Sunak has said he himself is not being investigated by the Gambling Commission over the allegations.

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.

“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.”

Labour’s Shadow Paymaster General Jonathan Ashworth demanded the PM "come clean" and tell voters "exactly how many of his Conservatives are implicated".

Responding to the Tory party's decision to withdraw support from the candidates, Ashworth said: "It is yet another example of Rishi Sunak’s staggeringly weak leadership that it has taken him nearly two weeks to see what was obvious to everyone else. The Conservatives who sought to line their own pockets by betting on the election date are not fit to be candidates for parliament.

"Rishi Sunak now needs to come clean with voters across the country and tell them exactly how many of his Conservatives are implicated and who they are.

"Just as with Partygate and the PPE scandal, the Conservatives believe it is one rule for them, another for everyone else. Change is in the hands of people across the country: but to get it, they have to vote Labour on 4 July."

Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer asked: “Why didn’t that happen a week ago?”