Laura Saunders is married to Tony Lee, head of Conservative campaigns. Rishi Sunak’s parliamentary aide, Craig Williams, is also being investigated and the PM’s close protection officer has been arrested over bets.
By Alix Culbertson, Political reporter @alixculbertson
A second Conservative candidate facing an investigation over allegedly betting on the timing of the general election is married to the party’s director of campaigns.
Laura Saunders, the Tory candidate for Bristol North West, is being looked into by the Gambling Commission.
She has worked for the party since 2015 and is married to the Conservative Party’s director of campaigns, Tony Lee.
Mr Lee “took a leave of absence” from his role on Wednesday night, a Conservative Party spokesman told Sky News.
It is not known how much money Ms Saunders placed or when the bet was made.
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The incident comes a week after Rishi Sunak’s close parliamentary aide Craig Williams, the Tory candidate in Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr, was revealed to have placed a bet on a July election date three days before the prime minister announced it.
And the prime minister’s close protection officer has been arrested and suspended over alleged bets about the timing of the election.
Labour campaign sources have told Sky News they noticed the odds on a July election narrow the day before Mr Sunak announced it on 22 May.
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, who is stepping down after 19 years as an MP, told Sky News’ Breakfast with Kay Burley: “It’s deeply disappointing and upsetting.
“But I have to say it’s the exception rather than the rule.”
He later said the whole episode is “deeply regrettable”, and added: “I can tell you how the world will think it looks, which is not great.”
In the hours after it was revealed Ms Saunders’ bet was being looked into the Conservatives deleted a social media post they had put up the previous day featuring a video of a roulette wheel and the caption: “If you bet on Labour, you can never win.”
A Conservative spokesman told Sky News: “We have been contacted by the Gambling Commission about a small number of individuals.
“As the Gambling Commission is an independent body, it wouldn’t be proper to comment further, until any process is concluded.”
A Gambling Commission spokesman told Sky News: “The Gambling Commission regulates gambling in the interests of consumers and the wider public.
“Currently, the commission is investigating the possibility of offences concerning the date of the election. This is an ongoing investigation, and the commission cannot provide any further details at this time.
“We are not confirming or denying the identity of any individuals involved in this investigation.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called for Ms Saunders to be suspended and said it is “very telling” Mr Sunak has not already done so.
“If it was one of my candidates, they’d be gone and their feet would not have touched the floor,” he added.
The officer who has been arrested is a member of the Met’s Royalty and Specialist Protection (RaSP) Command, which provides personal close protection to ministerial VIPs and members of the Royal Family.
Sky News understands several bets were placed by the officer, with at least one of them being a three-figure sum.
The Met Police said the matter was immediately referred on 14 June to officers in the force’s directorate of professional standards, who opened an investigation. The officer was also removed from operational duties.
In a statement, the Met said: “The officer was subsequently arrested on Monday 17 June on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was taken into custody and bailed pending further enquiries.”
Mr Sunak said he was “disappointed” about Mr Williams after it emerged last week that he had bet on a July election.
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Mr Williams, who was the PM’s parliamentary private secretary (PPS), is facing an investigation after he “put a flutter on the general election” three days before the 4 July date was announced.
The odds at the time were 5/1 and he placed £100 on, which would have led to a £500 payout.
In a statement, he said his “flutter” on the election had prompted some “routine inquiries” and that he would “fully co-operate with these”.
“I don’t want it to be a distraction from the campaign. I should have thought through how it looks,” he added.
Sky News has contacted Ms Saunders for a comment but she has not replied.
The other candidates for Bristol North West are:
Caroline Gooch, Lib Dems
Darren Jones, Labour
Scarlett O’Connor, Reform UK
Mary Page, Green Party
Ben Smith, SDP
The other candidates for Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr are:
Jeremy Brignell-Thorp, Green Party
Oliver Lewis, Reform Uk
Glyn Preston, Lib Dems
Elwyn Vaughan, Plaid Cymru
Steve Witherden, Labour
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
