Tory election betting scandal grows as Michael Gove compares controversy to Partygate

Nick Mason is understood to have taken time away from the Conservative Party following the allegations of betting

The general election betting scandal engulfing the Conservative Party continues to grow, with its chief data officer Nick Mason under investigation by the Gambling Commission.

Michael Gove has compared the scandal to Partygate, saying it looks like there is “one rule for them and one rule for us” as Mr Mason faces claims he placed bets on the timing of the general election.

The data chief is the latest senior Conservative to take a leave of absense while under investigation by the gambling watchdog for allegedly betting on the timing of the election before the date had been announced,.

Michael Gove said the election betting scandal is like Partygate (PA Wire)

The latest allegations were published by The Sunday Times, which claimed dozens of bets had been placed with potential winnings worth thousands of pounds.

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Speaking to the paper, Mr Gove said: “It looks like one rule for them and one rule for us ... That’s the most potentially damaging thing,” he said.

“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. “

James Cleverly on Sunday said he had no reason to believe that ministers had placed bets on the timing of the election.

The home secretary said he would not defend any Tories found to have done so, but said it was a matter for the Gambling Commission to investigate.

He added that "my understanding is that it is a small number of individuals" involved.

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."

ITV’s Robert Peston reported that the commission is investigating “many” individuals who bet on the election date. And an industry source told The Independent the Gambling Commission asked for details of all the bets made on a July election after 1 May, and it is now “combing through the data and picking off people from that”.

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.

And it comes as Labour launches a social media campaign aimed at questioning Rishi Sunak’s judgement by ramping up pressure for him to suspend 12 candidates caught up in different controversies including the betting scandal.

It is to target Craig Williams, Mr Sunak’s parliamentary private secretary standing in Montgomeryshire, who was the first Tory candidate publicly linked to the betting scandal.

The revelations are a fresh blow to Rishi Sunak’s hopes of getting the Tory election campaign on track (via REUTERS)

And Labour will attack Laura Saunders, who has worked for the Tories since 2015, married to director of campaigning Tony Lee, and standing in Bristol North West, who are both being investigated by the Gambling Commission for betting on the election date shortly before it was called.

Ms Saunders has said she will cooperate fully with the investigation, while Mr Williams said: “I clearly made a huge error of judgement that’s for sure and I apologise.”

The Liberal Democrats meanwhile called on Mr Sunak to personally intervene, with a Cabinet Office inquiry into the reports.

Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: “This is now an all-out scandal at the heart of Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party.

Tony Lee, the Tory director of campaigns, and his wife Laura Saunders, are under investigation by the Gambling Commission (Supplied)

“Sunak must personally intervene to order a Cabinet Office inquiry and suspend all those under investigation by the Gambling Commission.

“People are sick and tired of this sleaze. Day by day, hour by hour, the Conservative Government mire themselves in more of it.”

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.”

The revelations come as the opinion polls continue to suggest poor public support for the Conservative party.

In the latest Savanta poll published for the Sunday Telegraph, Labour are on 42 per cent of the vote, and the Conservatives are on 19 per cent, their lowest ever vote share in a test of public opinion by the company.

Nigel Farage’s Reform UK meanwhile are on 16 per cent of the vote, in a poll of 2,103 UK adults conducted between June 19 and 21.