Election news – live: Labour suspends candidate Kevin Craig amid gambling probe

The Independent is giving readers the chance to chat directly with candidates from some of the major political parties in a special general election series of Ask Me Anything events.

In one question and answer session, our community will be able to chat exclusively with SNP candidate Drew Hendry, who is looking to hold his seat on July 4.

In its manifesto, the party makes it plain that it wants to rejoin the European Union and the single market, and “reverse the damage of Brexit”.

That only looks likely to be an option if Scotland becomes independent, so it’s unsurprising that the SNP is also pledging to “intensify” the pressure to secure Scottish independence.

If you have a question about the SNP’s manifesto, pledges or policies submit it here.

Voters think candidates who had placed bets on the election date should be barred from standing, Kate Devlin reports.

Two thirds of the public, 63 per cent, say candidates who placed bets on the date of the general election should not be allowed to stand.

And more than half, 54 per cent, of Conservative voters agree.

The Savanta research was carried out between 21 and 24 June, before today’s announcement the Tories were withdrawing their support for Craig Williams and Laura Saunders.

Hundreds of campaign leaflets for the chairman of the Conservative party Richard Holden have been sent to the wrong constituency, the BBC reports.

The party has admitted the mistake was out of their control but it did not confirm how many were lost.

Mr Holden, who oversees the national party campaigning, has seen his election material end up in Rayleigh and Wickford.

He confirmed that just a “few hundred” leaflets were misplaced but some party insiders have admitted it is more like thousands.

The candidate for Montgomeryshire, who has been dropped by the Tories as a candidate over bettingon the election timing, has admitted he committed a mistake.

Craig Williams said he remained on the ballot paper and intended to clear his name after being dropped by the Conservatives over betting on the date of the General Election.

In a video posted on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Williams said: “I just want a quick message to the constituents of Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr. I remain on the ballot paper come July 4 and I hope to secure your support after years of delivery.

“I committed an error of judgment, not an offence, and I want to reiterate my apology directly to you.

“I am fully co-operating with routine inquiries from the Gambling Commission and I intend to clear my name.”

The former candidate, who is now running as an independent after being dropped from the party, claims Labour members are spreading “vicious lies” about her deselection.

Ms Shaheen claims the party told voters she was suspended for “more serious reasons”.

Vaughan Gething has said that a footballer would be banned from the game if they placed a bet in the way Conservative candidates have been accused of doing.

Responding to a question from Conservative MS Natasha Asghar on his own integrity at FMQs on Tuesday, Mr Gething said: “If you really want to talk about scandals – and today is a day to do that, is it not, Natasha Asghar – look at former Conservative Senedd staffer Craig Williams, now finally junked as a Conservative candidate.

The first minister of Wales added: “And let’s be clear if a professional footballer had placed a bet in the way that Craig Williams did, he’d be banned from the game.

“That’s what would happen.”