Craig Williams, a senior aide to the Prime Minister, has admitted that he had a “flutter” on the election being called in July. Laura Saunders, the Tory candidate in Bristol North West, is also being looked at by the Gambling Commission over an alleged election bet.
Her husband Tony Lee, the Conservative Party’s director of campaigning, is on a leave of absence from his role and is also being investigated.
On Sunday, it was reported that Nick Mason, the party’s head of data, is under investigation by the watchdog over allegedly placing “dozens” of bets.
Mr Sunak said he was “not aware of any other candidate” that the Gambling Commission is looking at over election wagers. His comments come after the watchdog widened its investigation to include friends and family of senior Tories who may have placed bets.
Several members of the Cabinet have been forced to deny having a bet themselves amid speculation that the scandal could reach the top of Government.
Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, became the latest to publicly distance himself from the row, with a spokesman saying that he “didn’t place any bets”. Other senior Conservatives to have denied any involvement include Penny Mordaunt, Grant Shapps, Mark Harper and David TC Davies.