UK's Conservatives withdraws support from candidates involved in gambling investigation

As result of internal enquiries, conservatives no longer support candidates Craig Williams or Laura Saunders

LONDON:

Britain's Conservative Party has withdrawn support from two parliamentary candidates "as a result of ongoing internal enquiries," relating to alleged bets placed on the timing of a July 4 national election, it said on Tuesday.

"As a result of ongoing internal enquiries, we have concluded that we can no longer support Craig Williams or Laura Saunders as Parliamentary Candidates at the forthcoming General Election," a spokesperson for the party, which polls predict is set to lose the vote, said.

Williams, a close aide to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, apologised earlier this month for placing a bet on when the election would happen.

The scandal escalated last week when media reported the country's regulator, the Gambling Commission, was looking into allegations of improper betting by a second candidate, Saunders, and her husband Tony Lee, the party's campaign director.

Lee has taken a leave of absence from his role.

The Conservative spokesperson said it had checked with the Gambling Commission to ensure its decision to withdraw support did not compromise their ongoing probe.