Cabinet minister says he placed bets on election date

The Westminster gambling row has deepened after a cabinet minister revealed he had placed bets on the date of the general election.

- NINA LLOYD

Scotland secretary Alister Jack denied having broken any rules but said he put three wagers on the timing of the 4 July poll, becoming the latest of seven politicians and officials to get drawn in to the controversy.

Mr Jack said he had in April put £20 at odds of 5 to 1 on an election being held between July and September, but that he had no knowledge of when it would be called until the day that Rishi Sunak fired the starting gun on 22 May.

It came after the BBC reported that he had told the broadcaster he made more than £2,000 from betting on the date, but later dismissed the comments as a “joke”.