No Cabinet ministers involved in election bets row, James Cleverly insists – as four Tory officials are probed
NO Cabinet ministers were involved in the betting election scandal, the Home Secretary has insisted.
James Cleverly said he "has no reason to believe" his colleagues were involved and that only a "small number of individuals" seem to be implicated.
His comments come as the scandal deepened with the party's chief data officer Nick Mason becoming the fourth Tory investigated by the Gambling Commission for allegedly betting on the timing of the election.
The revelation is a fresh blow to the PM's hopes of getting the Tory election campaign back on track.
The Home Secretary told Sky News he was not going to defend in "any way" the Tories found to have placed the bets.
But he went on to say that his understanding is that "it is a small number of individuals" facing the probe.
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Asked if any Cabinet ministers were involved, he said: “I’ve got no reason to believe any of them were, at all.”
The Home Secretary also defended Rishi Sunak for not sacking anyone who admitted placing a bet, insisting it is a matter for the Gambling Commission to investigate.
He said: "The appropriate thing to do is for the appropriate investigating authority to conduct that investigation.
"These structures are there for a reason. It is the right thing to do. And I'm quite sure that that you would be very critical if we were going to circumvent these organisations."
Mr Cleverly also reiterated the Commission told them "very, very clear" not to discuss the investigations.
Tony Lee, the party’s director of campaigns, and his wife Laura Saunders, are also under investigation .
Craig Williams, who was the Prime Minister’s parliamentary private secretary and is the Conservative candidate for Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr, is also facing the probe and has admitted to putting “a flutter” on the date of the election.
Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson this morning said there is “genuine disgust” among voters over the allegations.
“I don’t think that’s really the point. The issue here is that whether those people who had inside knowledge of what was going on used that information in placing a bet.
“People across the country will place bets, but I think there is genuine disgust amongst so many voters that what we’re seeing here is pretty shocking behaviour."
Top Tory latest in election bets row
By Jonathan Kanengoni
A Tory official is the latest to be probed by the Gambling Commission over claims that bets were placed on the timing of the election.
Chief data officer Nick Mason is reported to have staked dozens of bets, each worth up to £100.
He was told he was part of the probe before the party announced he had taken a leave of absence when approached by The Sunday Times.
Cheating on bets is a criminal offence with a possible jail term of up to two years.
A spokesman for Mr mason said it was inappropriate to comment, but denied wrongdoing. The Tories' director of campaigns Tony Lee and his wife, Laura Saunders, are also being probed - as is the PM's parliamentary private secretary Craig Williams.
A close protection officer of Mr Sunak faces a similar allegation.