A senior Conservative official is being investigated by the Gambling Commission over allegations he placed dozens of bets on the timing of the election before it was announced publicly.
Nick Mason, the Tories’ chief data officer, has been informed by the watchdog that he is part of the inquiry. After being approached for comment, the Conservative Party confirmed he has taken a leave of absence.
He is the fourth Tory to be named since the controversy first erupted, with a police officer who was part of Rishi Sunak’s close protection team also under investigation.
Mason allegedly placed small bets each worth less than £100, but would have stood to win thousands of pounds based on the odds
In an interview with the Sunday Times, Michael Gove, the outgoing levelling up secretary, likens the controversy to the partygate scandal that dogged Boris Johnson’s premiership.
The revelation that the commission