James Cleverly today insisted Tories who placed bets on the election date should ‘do the right thing’ and come forward.
The Home Secretary acknowledged that the furore was distracting from the election battle as the party’s chief data officer became latest investigated by the Gambling Commission.
But he played down fears about the scandal snowballing, suggesting there were only a ‘small number of individuals’ involved and he had ‘no reason’ to believe they included Cabinet ministers.
The remarks came In a round of interviews this morning, after it emerged Nick Mason has taken a leave of absence amid claims he placed ‘dozens of bets’ on the timing of the election.
The latest allegations were published by The Sunday Times, which claimed the potential winnings were worth thousands of pounds. A spokesman for Mr Mason denied wrongdoing but said it would be inappropriate to comment.
The revelations are a fresh blow to Rishi Sunak‘s hopes of getting the Tory election campaign on track after three other Conservative figures were caught up in the scandal.
Tony Lee, the party’s director of campaigns, and his wife Laura Saunders, are also under investigation by the Commission.
James Cleverly (pictured) acknowledged the betting furore was distracting from the election as the Tories’ chief data officer became latest investigated by the Gambling Commission
It has emerged that Tory chief data officer Nick Mason (pictured) has taken a leave of absence amid claims he placed ‘dozens of bets’ on the timing of the election
Tony Lee, the Conservative party’s director of campaigns, and his wife Laura Saunders, are also under investigation by the Commission
Lee’s wife, Laura Saunders, a Conservative candidate in the Bristol North West constituency, is also under investigation but said she is fully cooperating with the commission
Craig Williams, who was the Prime Minister’s parliamentary private secretary and is the Conservative candidate for Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr, was also placed under investigation over a £100 ‘flutter’ on the date of the election
Ms Saunders, a Conservative candidate in the Bristol North West constituency, has said she is fully cooperating with the commission.
Craig Williams, who was the Prime Minister’s parliamentary private secretary and is the Conservative candidate for Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr, was also placed under investigation over a £100 ‘flutter’ on the date of the election.
He has apologised for the act which he described as a ‘huge error of judgement’.
Labour called for the Tories to suspend Ms Saunders and Mr Williams, with Keir Starmer saying: ‘If it was one of my candidates, they’d be gone and their feet would not have touched the floor.’
Meanwhile, one of Mr Sunak’s close protection officers has also been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public following a similar allegation and is suspended as an internal investigation is carried out by Scotland Yard.
Mr Cleverly told Sky News: ‘I’m not in any way going to defend people who placed bets on that.
‘There is an investigation by the Gambling Commission and we have been told very, very clearly that we are not to discuss the investigations.’
He said that ‘my understanding is that it is a small number of individuals’ involved.
Asked if any Cabinet ministers were involved, he said: ‘I’ve got no reason to believe any of them were, at all.’
Asked why Mr Sunak was not sacking anyone who admitted placing a bet, Mr Cleverly said it was a matter for the Gambling Commission to investigate.
On Times Radio a clearly frustrated Mr Cleverly said: ‘I would much prefer this interview was about the plans that we have got to continue bearing down on taxes for working people, the plans we’ve got to get flights off to Rwanda etc, rather than having to comment about what might be inappropriate behaviour.’
He added: ‘I would always say people should do the right thing. I mean, people should always do the right thing. I don’t know of any other individuals involved.’
Michael Gove, the outgoing Housing Secretary, has condemned the latest reports, and likened the betting scandal to Partygate during Boris Johnson’s premiership.
‘It looks like one rule for them and one rule for us,’ he told the Sunday Times, adding: ‘That’s the most potentially damaging thing.’
‘The perception that we operate outside the rules that we set for others.
‘That was damaging at the time of partygate and is damaging here.
‘If you’re in a privileged position [close] to the prime minister at the heart of a political operation and you use inside information to make additional money for yourself, that’s just not acceptable.
‘So if these allegations are true, it’s very difficult to defend,’ he added.
A spokesperson for Mason denied any wrongdoing and said it was inappropriate to comment during the inquiry.
A Conservative spokesman said: ‘As instructed by the Gambling Commission, we are not permitted to discuss any matters related to any investigation with the subject or any other persons.’
Mr Sunak must personally intervene in the ‘all-out scandal’, the Lib Dems have said.
Daisy Cooper, the Lib Dem deputy leader, said: ‘Sunak must personally intervene to order a Cabinet Office inquiry and suspend all those under investigation.’
On Thursday night, Mr Sunak admitted he was ‘incredibly angry’ after the bombshell that the gambling watchdog is investigating several senior Conservatives.
Appearing on the BBC’s Question Time election special, Mr Sunak was grilled on the claims.
‘I was incredibly angry to learn of these allegations. If anyone’s found to have broken the rules, not only should they face the full consequences of the law, I’ll make sure they are booted out of the Conservative Party,’ he said.
Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith branded those involved as ‘stupid and venal’.
Reform leader Nigel Farage accused the Conservatives of being ‘corrupt’.
The use of confidential information to gain unfair advantage when betting may constitute a criminal offence of cheating under section 42 of the Gambling Act.
Those convicted face and unlimited fine or up to two years in jail.