Another top Tory official investigated over 'dozens of bets placed on election' but denies wrongdoing

22 June 2024, 23:30

Another top Tory official is being investigated by the Gambling Commission for dozens of bets on the election date.
Another top Tory official is being investigated by the Gambling Commission for dozens of bets on the election date. Picture: Alamy

By Chay Quinn

Another top Tory official is being investigated by the Gambling Commission for dozens of bets on the election date.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Nick Mason, chief data officer for the Conservative party, is being investigated for bets placed on the date of the election according to the Sunday Times.

LBC understands that Mason has taken a leave of absence from his role while the matter is investigated by the Gambling Commission.

A Conservative spokesman said: "As instructed by the Gambling Commission, we are not permitted to discuss any matters related to any investigation with the subject or any other persons."

Read more: Tory candidate being investigated over alleged election date bet is 'married to Conservative Director of Campaigns'

Read more: Gove says election bets are ‘betrayal of Prime Minister’s trust’ as second Tory candidate investigated by regulator

A string of people with links to either the Conservative Party or No10 are alleged to have placed bets on the timing of the July 4 election before Mr Sunak announced it.

London, UK. 22nd May, 2024. Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Nick Mason, chief data officer for the Conservative party, is being investigated for bets placed on the date of the election before it was announced according to the Sunday Times. Picture: Alamy

Conservative candidate Laura Saunders, who is one of the people being investigated, said she "will be co-operating with the Gambling Commission".

She is the wife of Tony Lee, the Conservative Director of Campaigns, who has taken "a leave of absence" amid investigations into the betting scandal.

It came after the arrest of one of the Prime Minister's police protection officers and the previous revelation of a Gambling Commission investigation into his parliamentary aide, Craig Williams.

Speaking to LBC’s Nick Ferrari at Breakfast, Housing Secretary Michael Gove said that the investigations were ‘beyond embarrassing’ for the Conservative party.

Minister for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities Michael Gove during a housing visit in West London, while on the General Election campaign trail. Picture date: Thursday June 20, 2024.
Minister for Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities Michael Gove during a housing visit in West London, while on the General Election campaign trail. Picture date: Thursday June 20, 2024. Picture: Alamy

Asked about how the inquiries reflected on the parties, Mr Gove said: “It’s beyond embarrassing, it’s wrong - it’s also the principle here.

“It’s not just a betrayal of trust in the Prime Minister, which is very bad, it also means that other punters are losing out because of insider information and that means the system isn’t operating fairly.”

He added: “It’s beyond bad to use information like that to secure an advantage.”

A Conservative spokesman said of the inquiry: “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.”

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Jose Mourinho was appointed Fenerbahce manager in 2024

Galatasaray accuse Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho of making 'racist statements'

Exclusive
Ofcom will 'name and shame' social media companies that don't take action to cut down abuse of women and girls

Social media companies to be 'named and shamed' for not protecting women and girls online, Ofcom chief tells LBC

Video footage shows police rushing towards the Hart Space during the attack

Horror footage shows moment police rush towards Southport dance studio while killer is still inside

Registered XL Bully dogs must be housed securely, neutered, kept on a lead and muzzled in public

Man in his 80s seriously injured after XL bully attack in Warrington

Ocean Infinity is searching for the downed plane

British team launches 'final search' for MH370, in bid to solve mystery of vanished plane 11 years on

The BBC has pulled the documentary from iPlayer while it does more 'due diligence'

BBC Gaza documentary cameraman ‘celebrated October 7 attacks’ as cost of film is revealed

Bessborough Road, where the crash took place

Pedestrian in her 40s killed in London bus crash as car driver arrested for dangerous driving

Energy bills are set to rise again

Energy bills to increase again as price cap rises more than expected

Exclusive
Boris Johnson has said the UK should spend more on defence

UK should spend 3% of GDP on defence and could send up to 10,000 troops to Ukraine, Boris Johnson tells LBC

Mitchell Ring was forced to sit near the body for several hours

Couple forced to sit next to dead woman for hours after she collapsed on long-haul flight

Ambassador Dorothy Camille Shea, chargé d'affaires ad interim of the United States, speaks during a United Nations Security Council meeting on Ukraine

US sides with Russia twice in failed UN votes over Ukraine, as assembly calls for end to war

One person has died after a bus crash in Harrow

One dead in horror London bus crash, as three left injured

"The tariffs are going forward on time, on schedule," Trump said.

Trump says 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico 'will go forward' in March after month-long delay

Police could soon be able to enter homes where stolen phones have been tracked to, without having to ask a court first.

Police to be given new powers to search homes for stolen phones without warrants under flagship Bill

Clint Hill, the US secret service agent who leapt onto the back of John F Kennedy's limousine after the president was shot, has died aged 93.

Secret Service agent who jumped onto JFK’s limousine after assassination Clint Hill dies aged 93

Roberta Flack

Tributes flood in for Roberta Flack, 'Killing Me Softly' singer and R&B icon