Cabinet minister Alister Jack ‘claimed he won £2,000 betting on election date’

A Cabinet minister claimed to have won more than £2,000 by betting on the timing of the General Election, it is claimed.

Scotland Secretary Alister Jack has denied breaking any watchdog rules after the BBC reported he had told the broadcaster he placed wagers on June and July polling dates.

The minister is the latest figure to have become embroiled in the controversy over alleged betting on the timing of the election after Rishi Sunak pulled support from two Tory candidates amid a Gambling Commission investigation.

Labour also suspended its candidate Kevin Craig, who is facing a separate probe after he placed a wager on himself losing the contest for the Central Suffolk and North Ipswich constituency to the Conservatives.

And Welsh Conservative member of the Senedd, Russell George, stepped back from the shadow cabinet on Tuesday as it emerged he was facing a probe over alleged betting on the timing of the July 4 poll.

But Mr Jack, who is not seeking re-election, said he “did not place any bets on the date of the general election during May – the period under investigation by the Gambling Commission”.

“I am very clear that I have never, on any occasion, broken any Gambling Commission rules”, he told the BBC.

“Furthermore, I am not aware of any family or friends placing bets. I have nothing more to say on this matter.”

He is also reported to have told the broadcaster his original comments were “a joke … I was pulling your leg”.

The Prime Minister withdrew backing for two Tory candidates after coming under mounting pressure within the party to take a tougher stance on the alleged use of inside information to bet on the timing of the July 4 poll.

Because nominations have closed, Craig Williams, who is standing in Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr, and Ms Saunders, who is standing in Bristol North West, will still appear on the ballot paper.

But a Conservative Party spokesman said: “As a result of ongoing internal inquiries, we have concluded that we can no longer support Craig Williams or Laura Saunders as parliamentary candidates at the forthcoming General Election.

“We have checked with the Gambling Commission that this decision does not compromise the investigation that they are conducting, which is rightly independent and ongoing.”

Mr Williams, who was the Prime Minister’s senior parliamentary aide, said he had “committed an error of judgment, not an offence” and intended to “clear my name”.

The row has overshadowed the Tory election campaign in recent days as the Prime Minister battles to close his party’s 21-point average poll deficit to Labour.

Meanwhile, Scotland Yard said five more officers – in addition to a member of Mr Sunak’s protection team who was arrested earlier this month on suspicion of misconduct in a public office – were alleged to have placed bets.

The officers are based on the Royalty and Specialist Command, the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command and the Central West Basic Command Unit, but none of them work in a close protection role.

A Met Police spokesman said: “It is still the case that only one officer is under criminal investigation.

“We have, however, been passed information from the Gambling Commission alleging that five further officers have placed bets related to the timing of the election.

“The Gambling Commission continues to investigate these matters. The officers have not been arrested but the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards has been informed.”

Decisions on whether the five officers will be subject to any restrictions will be taken in due course, the Met said.

As well as the parliamentary candidates, two senior Tory officials have taken a leave of absence at a crucial point in the election campaign, after being drawn into the Gambling Commission investigation.

Ms Saunders’s husband, Tony Lee, the party’s director of campaigning, and chief data officer, Nick Mason, have stepped back from their duties.

The Prime Minister had faced demands from within the party to act on the candidates over concerns the issue was further damaging the Conservatives’ electoral chances.

Following the decision to pull support, Tory peer and former Brexit secretary, Lord Frost, said: “We get there in the end.

“But why did it take so long to come to a decision that seemed so necessary right from the start?”

Additional reporting by Press Association.