Election betting scandal worse for Tories than Rishi Sunak’s D-Day mistake

The date of this year’s general election has been under discussion since early 2024.

When Rishi Sunak surprised the nation by announcing polling day as July 4, it ended months of speculation.

Now, in the final week of the campaign, that date finds itself at the center of a betting scandal that continues to distract from political debates.

Among those who have been investigated by the Gambling Commission for betting on the election date are Tories close to Mr Sunak. It remains to be seen whether action will be taken by the Commission.

As he reflects on the campaign as a whole, Ben Riley-Smith, the Telegraph’s political editor, assesses how damaging the scandal was and why it cuts to the heart of a Tory weakness.

Watch Ben’s video analysis above. Find more episodes of Westminster Source on The Telegraph’s Youtube channel.