PM’s chief of staff quizzed by gambling watchdog over election bets

Rishi Sunak‘s chief of staff has been interviewed as a witness by the gambling regulator as part of the row over alleged bets on the timing of the general election, it has emerged.

Liam Booth-Smith is reported to have spoken to the Gambling Commission last week to help the watchdog understand who may have known when polling day would be.

Sources stressed to the BBC that the PM’s top adviser – dubbed the ‘Treasury Travolta’ during Mr Sunak’s time as Chancellor due to his fondness for leather jackets – is not a suspect in the regulator’s investigation and had not placed a bet himself.

The Commission’s probe is focused on allegations of cheating, while Scotland Yard are looking into what is likely to be a smaller number of cases where there could be additional offences such as misconduct in public office.

An update by the Metropolitan Police and Gambling Commission said at least seven officers from the capital’s force are being investigated.

Scotland Yard had previously indicated that six officers were under investigation, including one of Mr Sunak’s protection team, who was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

Five Conservatives have also been caught up in the inquiry, with reports suggesting the figure could be 15 parliamentary candidates and officials, although the gambling watchdog has not confirmed the numbers involved.

Commission chief executive Andrew Rhodes said: ‘We are focused on an investigation into confidential information being used to gain an unfair advantage when betting on the date of the General Election.

‘Our enforcement team has made rapid progress so far and will continue to work closely with the Metropolitan Police to draw this case to a just conclusion.’

Mr Sunak has withdrawn Tory support for his former parliamentary aide Craig Williams’s bid to be returned as MP for the Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr seat, after he admitted having a ‘flutter’ on the election date.

During a campaign visit in Derbyshire yesterday, Mr Sunak was repeatedly asked whether he had confided in Mr Williams ahead of his surprise announcement of a summer election.

Speaking to broadcasters, the PM said: ‘I’ve been clear about this. I’m furious to have learnt about these allegations.

‘We’ve initiated independent inquiries of our own, because I don’t have access to the Gambling Commission’s detail.

‘You’ll recognise that while there are ongoing independent investigations, it’s just not right for me to say anything more about that.’

The Tories have also withdrawn support from Bristol North West candidate Laura Saunders whose husband, Tony Lee, the Conservative Party’s director of campaigning, has taken a leave of absence, as has Tory chief data officer Nick Mason.

Senedd member Russell George stepped back from the shadow cabinet in the Welsh Parliament after being placed under investigation.

Labour has also been dragged into the row, suspending candidate Kevin Craig after he was investigated by the regulator for betting on himself to lose his contest in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich.

During Wednesday’s final TV election debate, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused Mr Sunak of being ‘bullied’ into responding to the betting scandal after the PM previously ‘delayed’ acting against Mr Williams and Ms Saunders.

Sir Keir said: ‘You have to lead from the front on issues like this.

‘I think that in the last 14 years politics has become too much about self entitlement, and MPs thinking about what they could get for themselves.’

He added: ‘The instinct of these people to think the first thing they should do is try to make money, that was the wrong instinct, and we have to change that.’

Sir Keir compared the PM’s ‘delayed’ response to the ‘swift’ action he took to suspend Mr Craig. 

He said: ‘What I did, when one of my team was alleged to have been involved and investigated by the Gambling Commission, they were suspended within minutes. 

‘Because I knew it made it really important to be swift, the PM delayed and delayed and delayed until eventually he was bullied into taking off.’

In response, Mr Sunak said: ‘It was important to me, that given the seriousness and the sensitivity of the matters at hand that they were dealt with properly, and that’s what I’ve done.’