The Conservatives have withdrawan support from the candidates involved in the election date gambling scandal. Craig Williams, the candidate in Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr, and Laura Saunders, the candidate in Bristol North West, are being looked into by the Gambling Commission. Both deny wrongdoing. Two members of CCHQ staff are being investigated. Via a party spokesman:
“As a result of ongoing internal enquiries, we have concluded that we can no longer support Craig Williams or Laura Saunders as Parliamentary Candidates at the forthcoming General Election. We have checked with the Gambling Commission that this decision does not compromise the investigation that they are conducting, which is rightly independent and ongoing.”
Rishi Sunak has said he is “incredibly angry” about the allegations, which have grown steadily worse since Williams, his parliamentary private secretary, admitted to having a “flutter” on a July election date. The story has undoubtedly been noticed by voters. Coming the same day as the Japanese state visit, this is the latest surreal installment in this tragicomic general election.