Rishi Sunak said he is not being investigated by the Gambling Commission as part of its probe into bets placed on the election date.
The prime minister also said the Conservatives would conduct their own internal investigation into the allegations that dogged the latter part of their campaign.
Speaking to reporters in Edinburgh, Sunak said his party “will act” if the Conservatives’ own inquiry into the alleged betting scandal finds irregularities.
“The Gambling Commission is independent of the government – it is independent of me,” he said.
“I don’t have the details of their investigation, right? They don’t report to me, I don’t have the details, but what I can say is that in parallel we are conducting our own internal investigations and will of course act on any relevant findings or information and pass it on to the Gambling Commission.”
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When asked if he ever gambled on politics while he was an MP, Sunak replied: “No.”
The Prime Minister, who has also ruled out the alleged involvement of any member of his family, is in Scotland to help Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross launch the party manifesto.
Speaking ahead of the visit, Sunak said the Scottish Conservatives were “sending nationalists the strongest possible message that the people of Scotland want to abandon their obsession with independence”.
The Conservative campaign has been plunged into crisis over allegations that several people associated with the party placed bets on the date of the general election.
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Another important conservative being investigated
Craig Williams admitted betting on the election date. Photo: PA
Laura Saunders is the party’s candidate for Bristol North West. Photo: Laura Saunders for Bristol North West
Craig Williams, Sunak’s parliamentary private secretary and Conservative candidate in Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr, has admitted putting a “vibration” on the election date and is facing an investigation.
Tony Lee, the party’s campaigns director, and his wife Laura Saunders, the Conservative candidate for Bristol North West, are also under investigation.
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Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris rejected calls, including from within Tory ranks, for those facing an investigation to be suspended while the probe is ongoing.
This story originally appeared on News.sky.com read the full story
