The Conservative Party's campaign has been overshadowed by a betting scandal involving prominent figures within the party. Moreover, as the situation develops, the scandal seems likely to continue.
The party's Chief Data Officer, Nick Mason, is the latest to be investigated.
Mason is now on leave, accused of betting on the election date before it was announced. Reportedly, he placed numerous bets and could have won thousands of pounds. However, Mason denies any wrongdoing.
This scandal was initially exposed by Rishi Sunak's parliamentary assistant, Craig Williams, who admitted to betting £100 ($126) on the election date at odds of 5 to 1.
Although his bet was flagged and not registered, it prompted the Gambling Commission to scrutinize all bets placed on the July election after May 1st.
Since then, the scope of the investigation has expanded to include friends and relatives of MPs and candidates.
Additionally, a police officer from Sunak's security team has been arrested for alleged misconduct related to the gambling charges.
Rishi Sunak commented on the scandal, saying: "I am unaware they are investigating other candidates.
"In the meantime, we are also conducting an internal investigation, and of course, we will act according to the findings or information and submit it to the Gambling Commission."
Senior Conservative Party officials have condemned the use of insider information for betting. Cabinet Minister Michael Gove called it "reprehensible," while former Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood urged Sunak to take "decisive action."
Furthermore, Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer criticized Sunak's handling of the matter, emphasizing the necessity of leadership in a scandal.
The Gambling Commission's investigation is still ongoing, and the outcome remains uncertain.
