Met ends investigation into election gambling scandal

The Metropolitan Police has dropped its investigation into betting on the date of the general election, saying the bar for misconduct in public office had not been met.

- MILLIE COOKE

The probe was launched after it emerged senior Tory officials and one of Rishi Sunak's aides had placed bets shortly before the date of the election was announced, allegations that engulfed the Conservative election campaign in June.

The Conservatives eventually withdrew support for Mr Sunak’s former parliamentary private secretary Craig Williams as their candidate for Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr, along with Bristol North West candidate Laura Saunders, who was also alleged to have placed a bet.

Ms Saunders’ husband, Tony Lee, the Conservative Party’s director of campaigning, and Tory chief data officer Nick Mason took leaves of absence during the campaign after being implicated in the scandal, while Senedd member Russell George stepped back from the shadow cabinet in the Welsh parliament after being placed under investigation.