Gambling Scandal Strikes Again: Tory Candidate Under Investigation Ahead of Election

Fresh gambling controversy threatens further damage to Conservative Party image

As another candidate comes under scrutiny by the Gambling Commission, the incident may exacerbate the already tarnished perception of politicians more broadly.

Political reporter @robpowellnews

Thursday, June 20, 2024, 10:

Just like in comedy, timing is crucial in politics.

One might assume that the Conservative party's social media coordinator would have anticipated potential backlash prior to releasing an advertisement across party platforms that depicted a roulette wheel, alongside the caption: "If you bet on Labour, you can never win."

Shortly after the post was published, it was revealed that another Conservative candidate was under investigation for reportedly making a wager on when the general election would be called, just before this information was officially released.

Latest in politics: Conservative candidate under investigation for gambling ties is spouse of campaign chief

It has come to light that Laura Saunders, the candidate for Bristol North West, is the spouse of the party's director of campaigning. This position likely provides him with access to sensitive election-related information.

Legally, this is significant because utilizing undisclosed insider information to secure an unfair advantage in betting constitutes a criminal offense.

The Gambling Commission has announced that it is looking into potential violations related to the timing of the election, though it has not specified any persons involved.

However, this scenario holds political significance for a couple of reasons.

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To begin with – and at the risk of pointing out what may already be apparent – we are just two weeks away from the election, and the current administration is significantly behind in the polls.

Rishi Sunak would prefer to focus on discussing the potential dangers (from his perspective) of a Labour government, rather than addressing questionable behaviors within his own party.

As an election campaign nears its conclusion, every minute and every column inch becomes increasingly valuable. This latest development will consume significant media attention and overshadow the narratives that the Conservatives are trying to promote.

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Additionally, this narrative may be harmful as it focuses on and potentially exacerbates already existing political weak points within the Conservative party.

To clarify, this could potentially become entangled in a controversial and damaging political issue frequently referred to as "Tory sleaze."

The reasoning might be as follows: "While the nation faced restrictions, they were caught up in celebrations, their friends profiting from pandemic-related medical supplies, and they even attempted to benefit financially from the timing of the national vote."

Indeed, the party will contend that in each instance, it was allegedly just a handful of individuals violating the protocols.

In the spotlight of the election campaign, the impact might be the same regardless – similar to how the narrative about D-Day highlighted claims of a disconnected prime minister – this issue could potentially hit a sensitive spot for voters.

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However, there is one exception to consider.

In Westminster, there's a tendency to exaggerate how much scandals harm one particular political party. In truth, such incidents tend to tarnish the reputation of all politicians across the board in the eyes of the electorate, no matter which side they support.

This could be balanced out by the unavoidable focus on party politics that comes with an election.

However, considering the overall indifference and skepticism towards the political elite that has marked this campaign, it wouldn't be shocking if the recent controversy further erodes trust in potential leaders.

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