Britain’s gambling watchdog is investigating a second candidate over election betting, reports say

LONDON – A senior Conservative Party lawmaker said Thursday it would be “reprehensible” for anyone to use inside information to bet on the date of Britain’s national election, amid growing allegations that politicians or people close to them used their positions to take advantage of the vote.

When asked on Thursday about reports that the UK Gambling Commission was investigating a second Conservative candidate for placing a bet on the election date, Michael Gove told the BBC that if people were to use inside information to bet, it would be “very would be wrong.”

“What I cannot do is go into too much detail of the case while an investigation is ongoing,” Gove said. “But I can talk about the broad principle and you are absolutely right: it is reprehensible.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on May 22 that parliamentary elections would be held on July 4. The date was a closely guarded secret and many, even those in Sunak’s ruling Conservative Party, were surprised as a vote was expected in the autumn.

The Conservative Party said it had been contacted by the UK Gambling Commission through a “small number of individuals” in relation to the investigation. the BBC reported.

The party immediately declined to comment on the new accusation.

The widening scandal came after reports on Wednesday that one of Sunak’s police bodyguards had been arrested for alleged bets on the date of Britain’s national election made before it was announced. The Royalty and Specialist Protection Command officer was arrested on Monday on suspicion of misconduct in a public office, the Metropolitan Police said.

Last week, Sunak aide Craig Williams, who is running for re-election to parliament, acknowledged he was being investigated by the Gambling Commission for placing a 100 pound ($128) bet on a July election before the date was announced .

Betting is popular in Britain, where bookmakers offer odds on everything from sports to elections. Cheating by trading on inside information is a criminal offense.