UK bookmakers have been asked to investigate all substantial bets on the July election, following controversy over a £100 bet placed by a senior aide of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Craig Williams, the Prime Minister’s Parliamentary Private Secretary, bet £100 on the chance of the UK election being held in July. With odds of 5/1 from Ladbrokes, he stood to win £500. But the bet, which was placed just three days before the Prime Minister announced the date of the election, was quickly referred to the Gambling Commission.
“I put a flutter on the General Election some weeks ago. This has resulted in some routine inquiries and I confirm I will fully co-operate with these. I don't want it to be a distraction from the campaign. I should have thought through how it looks,” Williams wrote in a statement posted on X.
Statement: pic.twitter.com/Z8uMpPlnLJ
— Craig Williams (@craig4monty) June 12, 2024
Gambling commission investigates
Following the revelations, the UK Gambling Commission has asked bookmakers to look into all substantial bets placed on the July election, according to The Guardian. The watchdog wrote to licensed bookmakers asking for information about any bets where customers stood to gain more than £199 by betting on the election date.
Bookmakers received a three-page letter asking for their cooperation with the investigation. While Williams was not specifically mentioned in the letter, it did confirm that the regulator had real concerns about betting integrity around the election date.
Bets under investigation are those placed in the first three weeks of May, shortly before Sunak announced the date of the election.
Calls for inquiry into aide’s “flutter”
There have been calls amongst MPs for further investigation into the controversial bet. The Liberal Democrats have called for a Cabinet Office inquiry, which would reveal exactly what Williams knew - and when. Such an inquiry would require access to all communications between Williams and Sunak, along with transcripts of communications amongst other Downing Street staff.
“This inquiry is needed to get to the bottom of who knew what when, and uncover whether Craig Williams knew the election date at the time the bet was placed,” said Daisy Cooper, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats.
Williams is standing for re-election in Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr. But there are already calls for the whip to be removed from him if he is elected in July.
Foreign secretary David Cameron was asked about Williams’ position in an interview with BBC Breakfast.
When asked whether or not he was happy with Williams continuing to stand as a candidate for the Conservatives, Cameron said “all the nominations are in, and candidates are standing, and I don’t think we can change that.”
He also said it was “clearly” a “very foolish decision.”
“But obviously, he’s going to be investigated, and will have to face the consequences of that investigation,” Cameron said.
