Scotland Yard to investigate UK election betting scandal

Scotland Yard is set to investigate criminal allegations in the Westminster betting scandal, which is dominating the British election campaign.

The Metropolitan police is set to take over an expanded role in investigating criminal allegations in the Westminster betting scandal, which is dominating the British election campaign.

Urgent talks have been held between the Gambling Commission watchdog, which has been investigating suspicious bets on the election date by senior Conservative Party members, and Scotland Yard.

It is understood Conservative candidate for Shipley in West Yorkshire Sir Philip Davies, is accused of placing an £8,000 ($A15,000) bet on himself to lose his seat on July 4.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak clash in a fiery, final TV debate. Picture: BBC via Getty Images

He said he “fully expected to lose” his marginal seat, where he is fighting a 6242 majority.

Mr Davies, who is married to Esther McVey, the “minister for common sense”, told The Sun that it was “nobody’s business” if he placed the wager after the paper first revealed allegations that he bet against himself.

He denies acting illegally and there is no suggestion he has breached the law.

“What’s it got to do with you whether I did or didn’t?” he asked The Sun.

Conservative candidate for Shipley in West Yorkshire Philip Davies. Supplied

“I hope to win. I’m busting a gut to win. I expect to lose. In the 2005 election, I busted a gut to win. I expected to lose.

“I had a bet on myself to lose in the 2005 election, and my bet went down the pan.”

As many as 15 Conservative candidates and officials are under investigation by the Gambling Commission watchdog over wagers placed on the date of the general election, it has been claimed.

On Tuesday, two Tory candidates were suspended over reports they placed punts on a July date, with Rishi Sunak facing a barrage of abuse for failing to act sooner.

Mr Sunak said in a BBC debate on Wednesday local time he was “furious” and “frustrated” to learn of the betting scandal.

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer during the last TV debate before the UK election. Picture: Getty Images

The party has retracted support for Mr Sunak’s parliamentary aide, Craig Williams, and Laura Saunders, who is on the ballot for Bristol North West.

Six police officers are also under the microscope for placing bets on an early election.

One police officer from Mr Sunak’s close protection team has been arrested.

The Commission has been investigating dozens of bets placed by senior Conservative members amid allegations of insider trading.

On Tuesday a Labour candidate Kevin Craig was suspended from the party for betting against himself to win. Conservative chief whip in Wales, ‌Russell George, is also publicly named.

It is understood data from hundreds of bets placed in the run up to the July 4 election date has been requested from betting outlets by the Gambling Commission.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “The Gambling Commission will continue to lead the investigation into cases where the alleged offending is limited to breaches of the Gambling Act only.

“Met detectives will lead on investigating a small number of cases to assess whether the alleged offending goes beyond Gambling Act offences to include others, such as misconduct in public office.”