Cabinet minister Alister Jack revealed on Wednesday that he had placed three bets on the date of the general election.
The Scotland secretary denied having broken any rules but admitted he gambled on the timing of the July 4 vote.
Mr. Jack’s admission makes him the latest of seven parliamentarians and officials pulled into the growing Westminster gambling scandal.
The Conservative said he placed £20 at 5/1 on an election being held between July and September in the month of April, but denied he had any idea of the poll’s timing until Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the date to the country on May 22.
He also admitted to laying two losing wagers in March, one where he bet the election would be held in May and another in June, both at the value of £5.
In a statement to The Epoch Times, Mr. Jack said: “I am very clear that I have never, on any occasion, broken any Gambling Commission rules.
“Specifically, I did not place any bets on the date of the General Election during May (the period under investigation by the Gambling Commission).
“Furthermore, I am not aware of any family or friends placing bets.”
He added he had “not breached any gambling rules” and was “not under investigation by the Gambling Commission.”
Labour Drawn Into Row
Tuesday also saw Labour pulled into the furore, suspending its candidate in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, Kevin Craig, after he bet he would lose to the Tory candidate.“While I did not place this bet with any prior knowledge of the outcome, this was a huge mistake, for which I apologise unreservedly.”
He added that he “deeply regretted what he had done” and would “comply fully with the investigation.”
Mr. Craig will still appear on the ballot paper, but Labour said it swiftly moved to ensure the “highest standards” in its candidates “as the public rightly expects from any party hoping to serve.”
The party has also handed back £100,000 in donations it received from Mr. Craig.
As nominations have closed, Craig Williams and Laura Saunders will also still appear on the ballot paper, but a party spokesman confirmed that the Tories could no longer back them.
Mr. Williams, who was Mr. Sunak’s senior parliamentary aide, said he had “committed an error of judgment, not an offence” and intended to clear his name.
As well as the parliamentary candidates, a pair of top Tory officials have taken leave, after becoming subject to the Gambling Commission’s investigation.
Allegations Spread to Police
Allegations of improper betting have not been limited to MPs, party candidates, and political officials.The scandal has also spread to the police, with the Gambling Commission saying it has passed information to Scotland Yard alleging that five officers—in addition to a member of Mr. Sunak’s protection team who was arrested earlier this month—had laid wagers on the date of the vote.
The Metropolitan Police said it was still the case that only one officer, a police constable from the Royalty and Specialist Protection Command, is under criminal investigation and had been placed on restricted duties.
The force added in a statement to The Epoch Times: “We have, however, been passed information from the Gambling Commission alleging that five further officers have placed bets related to the timing of the election.
“The officers have not been arrested but the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed.”
Scotland Yard further clarified that the officers concerned worked in Royalty and Specialist Command, the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command, and the Central West Basic Command Unit, but that none was in a close protection role.
A Gambling Commission spokesperson said, “We are not confirming or denying the identity of any individuals involved in this investigation.”
The Epoch Times has contacted Mr. Craig for comment.
