Britain’s gambling regulator alleges five more police officers bet on the timing of the July 4 general election, the Metropolitan police said on Tuesday, amid growing allegations that people close to the government used inside information for personal gain.
The Metropolitan police said the Gambling Commission had passed on information to them about suspected misconduct by five officers, who protect royals, politicians and diplomats. No arrests have been made.
Police said an investigation by the gambling watchdog was continuing.
The move comes after it emerged that several members of the ruling Conservative party, as well as one of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s police bodyguards, were under investigation for allegedly using inside information to place bets on the election date before it was announced.
The bodyguard was arrested last week on suspicion of official misconduct, and the scandal, just days before the general election, has cast a pall over the Conservative campaign.
After 14 years in power, the party is widely expected to lose to the opposition Labour Party.
The Conservative Party announced on Tuesday it would withdraw its support for two election candidates, Craig Williams and Laura Sanders, who are under investigation by the Gambling Commission over gambling allegations.
But because the deadline to run has passed, both politicians will remain on the ballot. Williams said he plans to continue campaigning, cooperate with the committee and try to redeem himself.
“I made an error of judgement, I committed no crime, and I would like to apologize again directly,” he said in a video posted to social media platform “X.”
Williams is Mr Sunak’s parliamentary secretary and is also an MP standing for re-election on July 4th.
He acknowledged that he was under investigation for betting 100 pounds ($128) just days before the July election date was announced.
Sanders’ husband, Tony Lee, the Conservative Party’s campaign manager, is also under investigation for gambling allegations and is on administrative leave.
A fourth Conservative MP, the party’s chief data officer, Nick Mason, is also reportedly under investigation over the matter.
The Labor Party announced on Tuesday that it had suspended its parliamentary candidate Kevin Scott after reports the Gambling Commission was investigating him for betting on the outcome of a constituency election.
