As pressure mounted over the betting scandal, Labour also condemned Mr Sunak’s decision not to suspend two candidates who are under investigation by the Gambling Commission. Multiple cabinet ministers were forced to deny they had had a flutter on the polling date before it was announced to the public.
And as questions grew over what the prime minister knew and when, the Liberal Democrats called for WhatsApps from his inner circle to be probed. Dominic Grieve, the former Tory attorney general, warned the party was “held in contempt” by voters. Mr Grieve’s intervention comes as new figures showed the Tories had been dwarfed by Labour on fundraising, raising just £292,500 between 6 and 12 June compared to £4.4m.
Amid Tory fears the scandal will spread, defence secretary Grant Shapps told The Independent he had not placed a bet. Welsh secretary David TC Davies said: “I just want to put on record that I certainly haven’t bet myself”.
It is understood that transport secretary Mark Harper did not place a bet, while friends of Commons leader Penny Mordaunt say she did not either. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt referred questions from The Independent to his press office.
The scandal has seen the party’s director of campaigning, Tony Lee, “take a leave of absence” in the middle of the election. Meanwhile, his wife Laura Saunders – a candidate in Bristol and who has worked for the party since 2015 – and Craig Williams, who was Mr Sunak’s parliamentary private secretary in the last parliament, are under investigation for placing bets on the poll date just before the surprise snap election was announced.
Bu hikaye The Independent dergisinin June 22, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Independent dergisinin June 22, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Russell gifted Austrian win after Verstappen collision
Mercedes’ George Russell celebrated a surprise Austrian Grand Prix win yesterday after Red Bull’s triple world champion Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris collided late in the race while fighting for the lead.
Questions to answer over Djokovic's form and fitness
Alexander Zverev may have been missing something when he declared Wimbledon as the “most open Championships that we’ve had in 20 years”.
Spain turn on the style as Germany challenge awaits
Two sides who could scarcely have more different tactical ideas and playing styles. Two sides who have polar opposite histories, in international footballing terms, too.
Southgate gets lastminute lifeline to redeem himself
There was a minute left to run on Gareth Southgate’s reign, the clock ticking down on a dismal tournament that seemed a demoralising end to the second-finest tenure of any England manager.
Bellingham heroics saves England from sorry defeat
The sort of moment that makes it all worth it, and maybe helps England find their true worth as a team.
Crowe's shockingly good set adds the feelgood factor
The Gladiator’ star charged enthusiastically through covers of Dire Straits and Johnny Cash, along with some original songs, on the Acoustic Stage. Louis Chilton was charmed
ACES OF SPADES
Adele Cardani takes us on a tour of six of the loveliest green spaces you can visit, from the garden of England to up North
THE EGO HAS LANDED
In a world of social media and selfies, it can be tempting to diagnose everyone with narcissistic traits. Helen Coffey asks experts about the reality of narcissism in its different forms
'We can't let ourselves feel hopeless about the climate'
As the general election looms, Mark Beaumont talks climate activism with Simon Pegg, Sophie Duker and Will McCallum on location in the Greenpeace Field at Glastonbury Festival
US to remove $320m Gaza aid pier until aid flows again
The pier built by the US military to bring aid to Gaza, at a cost of $320m, is being removed to protect it from the weather – and officials say they are considering not reinstalling it unless aid begins flowing out into the population again.
