Sir Philip Davies’ latest Tory caught in gambling row ‘after betting £8,000 against himself’

Another senior Tory has become embroiled in the election betting scandal after allegedly betting £8,000 that he would lose his seat.

Sir Philip Davies is accused of betting he would lose his seat in Shipley, West Yorkshire, at the next election.

“What does it have to do with you whether I did it or not,” the conservative candidate said, defending a 6,242-vote majority. The sunadding that the bet was “nobody’s business”.

“I hope to win. I bust my guts to win. I expect to lose. In the 2005 election, I worked my butt off to win. I expected to lose. I had bet on myself that I would lose in the 2005 election, and my bet failed,” Sir Philip told the newspaper.

“And if anyone claims that I did something illegal, they are completely free to do so, but I’m afraid that’s not the case. »

He is the second parliamentary candidate accused of betting against himself in the general election, the other being Labour’s Kevin Craig.

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The Gambling Commission is investigating at least five Tories as part of its probe into betting on the July 4 poll date.

The Met Police said it was investigating a “small number of cases” linked to the gambling feuds to “assess whether the alleged offense went beyond offenses under the Gambling Act to include others, such as misconduct in the exercise of a public function.”

“The Met is not resuming the investigation into betting on the general election timetable,” a spokesperson said.

“The Gambling Commission will continue to investigate cases in which the alleged offenses are limited to violations of the Gambling Act.”

The gambling row deepened this week after Scottish Secretary Alister Jack admitted placing three bets on the election timetable.

The minister, however, has denied breaking the rules and is not under investigation by the regulator because he put the money on the line earlier in the year.

Mr Jack said he had bet £20 in April on an election to be held between July and September, but did not know when it would be called until Mr Sunak fired the shot. sent on May 22.

He said he placed two unsuccessful £5 bets in March on elections being held in May and June respectively, and then made the third bet in April.

Labor has also been embroiled in the controversy. The party suspended Mr Craig after he was investigated by the regulator for betting he would lose his seat in central Suffolk and north Ipswich.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer clashed over the Westminster betting row in their final one-on-one TV debate before Wednesday’s election.

The Labor leader accused Mr Sunak of being “bullied” into action over the scandal, while Mr Sunak repeatedly warned voters not to “capitulate” to the government’s tax and migration plans. Labor Party during a heated exchange.

One of Mr Sunak’s police protection officers has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office in relation to betting on the election date and his duties are restricted.

Five other officers, including members of the Royal and Specialist Command and the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Command, are under investigation by the Gambling Commission.

On Tuesday, the Conservative Party announced it was withdrawing its support from two election candidates, Craig Williams and Laura Saunders, who were under investigation by the Gambling Commission over alleged betting. But as nominations are closed, both politicians will remain on the ballot.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said he was “furious that people who should have been motivated exclusively by public service” had bet on the election, but insisted on waiting for the outcome of the election. investigation by the Gambling Commission before making a decision on rule changes.

Sir Keir said his response to Mr Craig showed assertive leadership “in stark contrast to Rishi Sunak, who took days and days and days to act”.

He told TV stations: “I’ve never placed a political bet, I only bet on horses. So that’s where I stand.

“And I don’t think we should be convinced that this is a problem of rules, but rather a problem of politicians.

“The public’s reaction shows that they immediately know that what is happening within the Conservative Party, this kind of insider trading, is wrong.”

Business Minister Kevin Hollinrake said on Thursday he had bet on the Conservatives to win the election, but betting on the results in Thirsk and Malton, where he is standing in the general election, would be “a mistake”.

Asked if he had bet on a Conservative victory, Mr Hollinrake replied: “Yes, I did. Not my seat, I think that would be a mistake.

He added: “This situation has definitely opened up a debate that we should have a real debate about and decide whether it is right or wrong for people to bet on things they are involved in. »