UK: Rishi Sunak’s parliamentary aide faces investigation over alleged bet on July election date

Craig Williams, parliamentary private secretary to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, is under scrutiny following revelations that he placed a bet on the date of the upcoming general election. The controversy has emerged midway through the election campaign, as the Conservative Party seeks to retain leadership.

Williams, who also stands as a candidate in the upcoming election, placed a £100 ($127.92) bet on a July election date shortly before Prime Minister Sunak announced the election would be held on July 4th, The Guardian reported. The bet, made at a Ladbrokes shop in his constituency, would have yielded £500 ($639.58) based on the odds at the time.

Acknowledging the situation, Williams confirmed that he had been contacted by the Gambling Commission regarding the matter. In a statement addressing the issue, he expressed his intent to fully cooperate with the inquiries.

"I've been contacted by a journalist about Gambling Commission inquiries into one of my accounts and thought it best to be totally transparent," Williams stated. "I put a flutter on the General Election some weeks ago. This has resulted in some routine inquiries and I confirm I will fully cooperate with these."

Statement: pic.twitter.com/Z8uMpPlnLJ

— Craig Williams (@craig4monty) June 12, 2024

The incident has sparked criticism from opposition parties, with Labour's Jonathan Ashworth describing it as "utterly extraordinary" and questioning Prime Minister Sunak's handling of the situation.

"Rishi Sunak has sat on this information for more than a week but has lacked any backbone to take action," Ashworth remarked. "Once again, Rishi Sunak has been exposed as utterly weak."

In response to the controversy, the Liberal Democrats have called for Prime Minister Sunak to suspend Williams as a candidate, highlighting concerns over the integrity of the electoral process.

The development comes at a critical juncture in the election campaign, with political parties intensifying their efforts to sway voters ahead of the July polls. The investigation into Williams' actions adds a layer of complexity to the Conservative Party's bid for re-election, which many polls suggest could lose power.