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muriel_volestrangler

(102,693 posts)
3. 4 Tories and several police bet on the date; now a Labour candidate admitted betting on the Tories to win
Tue Jun 25, 2024, 01:31 PM
Jun 2024

Probably better an idiot like that isn't in parliament.

The suspended Labour candidate Kevin Craig said he “deeply” regrets putting a bet on the Tories winning in the Suffolk constituency he is contesting.

Craig added he will “fully comply” with a Gambling Commission investigation.

He wrote on X: “A few weeks ago when I thought I would never win this seat I put a bet on the Tories to win here with the intention of giving any winnings to local charities. While I did not place this bet with any prior knowledge of the outcome, this was a huge mistake, for which I apologise unreservedly.”

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2024/jun/25/uk-general-election-live-updates-latest-today-tories-labour-betting-scandal-polls?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-667afde88f08fb1b8fd1677a#block-667afde88f08fb1b8fd1677a

Not only is betting on your opponent a potential corrupt act, he also stood a chance of winning (but probably not now) - Electoral Calculus had him at 48% chance: https://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/fcgi-bin/calcwork23.py?seat=Suffolk%20Central%20and%20Ipswich%20North

Oh, sorry, 5 Tories:

A Conservative politician has become the fifth party figure to be investigated by the gambling watchdog for allegedly placing a suspicious bet on the general election date, as the developing scandal continued to overshadow Rishi Sunak’s campaign.

The Gambling Commission has informed Russell George, a Tory member of the Welsh parliament who represents the same constituency as Sunak’s closest parliamentary aide Craig Williams, that he is part of its inquiry.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jun/25/election-betting-fifth-tory-investigated-in-growing-scandal

Still, you have to laugh - BBC radio pointed out Kevin Craig was the founder and CEO of PLMR public relations - who worked on the "Responsible Gambling Week".

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