Alex Cole-Hamilton says he placed bets on the general election

Alex Cole-Hamilton has said he has placed bets on who would be elected in some constituencies in Scotland in the general election.

The leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats told BBC Scotland he had placed some low-level bets to “show confidence in my friends”.

Speaking at a campaign event at Edinburgh Zoo, he said lots of people who follow politics closely will occasionally have “a flutter”, placing bets on election races across the country.

Mr Cole-Hamilton’s comments came after several Conservative candidates and senior officials were reported to have bet on the date of the 4 July election.