The betting scandal is hanging over the Tories as we enter the final 10 days before the general election. The party is worried the row will have consequences, with Conservative candidate and former minister Tobias Ellwood claiming the saga will “cost us seats”. Speaking on BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Mr Ellwood urged Rishi Sunak to suspend the Tories involved as he claimed “the public want to see clear robust action now”. The Gambling Commission is believed to have written to leading bookmakers to get information on bets placed days before Rishi Sunak announced the election on 4 July. The watchdog’s early investigation is reported to have brought to light “many more people” involved, and it is now looking at bets made in the days before Mr Sunak announced the election date on 22 May. Former cabinet ministers have pointed the blame at Mr Sunak for the scandal, while others have called for those investigated to be suspended if found guilty.
General election news: Ellwood says Tory betting scandal will cost party seats at election as Sunak urged to suspend candidates
Tory election betting probe: ‘Totally unacceptable’ if rules broken says Welsh secretary
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The betting scandal is hanging over the Tories as we enter the final 10 days before the general election.
The party is worried the row will have consequences, with Conservative candidate and former minister Tobias Ellwood claiming the saga will “cost us seats”.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Mr Ellwood urged Rishi Sunak to suspend the Tories involved as he claimed “the public want to see clear robust action now”.
The Gambling Commission is believed to have written to leading bookmakers to get information on bets placed days before Rishi Sunak announced the election on 4 July.
The watchdog’s early investigation is reported to have brought to light “many more people” involved, and it is now looking at bets made in the days before Mr Sunak announced the election date on 22 May.
Former cabinet ministers have pointed the blame at Mr Sunak for the scandal, while others have called for those investigated to be suspended if found guilty.
Key Points
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Wes Streeting: ‘biological women have felt excluded’ in debates on trans rights
Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said “biological women have felt excluded” at times in debates on transgender rights.
He told Times Radio: “I think at times in pursuit of inclusion we’ve ended up in a position where women have felt excluded, biological women have felt excluded.
“And there are practical examples of this in terms of things like NHS language and documentation.”
Asked about Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s position on the issue, Mr Streeting said: “I think what Keir has been trying to do on this – I think we all have – is to try and respect the fact that there are people whose gender identity is different from their biological sex and to try and be as inclusive as possible.”
Jabed Ahmed24 June 2024 09:25
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Cabinet minister: I would place bets on seats if election betting was allowed
Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has said he would place bets on “individual seats” as he has done in the past if he were “allowed to bet on the election”.
He told Times Radio: “If I was allowed to bet on the election, I would do what I have done in the past which is have bets on individual seats that are what you would be calling too close to call because you know I quite fancied that, like my £1 bet at the beginning of a week on the multiplier for five wins on the football at the weekend.”
Jabed Ahmed24 June 2024 09:23
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Farage hits back at Boris Johnson over Russia-Ukraine comments
Nigel Farage has hit back at Boris Johnson after the former prime minister accused the Reform UK leader of a “morally repugnant” repetition of Vladimir Putin’s justification for the invasion of Ukraine.
Mr Farage tweeted: “Boris, you are a liar and a hypocrite.
“I am glad you are no longer Prime Minister of this country.”
In his post on X, he included two newspaper articles from 2016 and 2022 headlined “Boris blames EU for war in Ukraine” and “Boris Johnson blamed EU for Russia’s 2014 attacks on Ukraine and was branded ‘Putin apologist’”.
Jabed Ahmed24 June 2024 09:20
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Watch: Nigel Farage claims Donald Trump has ‘learned a lot’ from studying his speeches
Nigel Farage has claimed former US President Donald Trump “learned a lot” from studying his speeches in the European Parliament before he ran for office.
Nigel Farage claims Donald Trump has ‘learned a lot’ from studying his speeches
Jabed Ahmed24 June 2024 09:14
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Sunak warns Labour government would be ‘disaster’ as he battles to save election campaign
Rishi Sunak will warn that it would take decades to recover from the “disaster” of a Labour government as he seeks to rally Tories to fight for every vote in the closing stages of the General Election campaign.
The Prime Minister will tell activists they have just 10 days to “take our message to every corner of the United Kingdom” and stop a Labour “supermajority.”
Read the full article here:
Jabed Ahmed24 June 2024 09:10
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Wes Streeting feels ‘pretty depressed’ over JK Rowling’s criticism of Labour plans for gender transition
The shadow health secretary has said he feels “pretty depressed” over JK Rowling’s criticism of Labour’s stance on transgender rights.
Asked how he feels about comments by the author criticising the party for “abandoning” women concerned about transgender rights, Wes Streeting told Times Radio: “Pretty depressed, to be honest.
“I have a lot of respect for JK Rowling both in terms of what she’s done for children and literacy but also the work that she’s done campaigning for women and in particular violence against women and girls.
“I think that we’ve clearly got more work to do to rebuild trust with people that we’ve lost on this issue.”
He added: “I think we can find a way through that both treats trans people with the dignity and respect that they deserve, and also treats women with the respect that they deserve, particularly protecting women’s spaces, women’s voices, and right to speak up.
“So, when women like JK Rowling do speak up, I think it’s important we engage seriously with the arguments that she’s making, with the concerns that she has.
“And also we listen to what trans people are saying about the everyday injustices and indignities that they’re experiencing too, whether that’s hate crime or poor provision in public services.”
Jabed Ahmed24 June 2024 09:07
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Coming up: IFS due to reveal analysis on main parties’ manifestos
The Institute for Fiscal Studies is expected to reveal its analyisis on the main parties’ election manifestos.
Think tank’s director Paul Johnson has given some detail about what we can expect from today’s report.
He told BBC Radio 4 on the Today programme that he does not think the manifestos are fully costed and it’s clear that spending cuts are coming “if we don’t increase taxes”.
But Mr Johnson claimed both the Conservatives and Labour are refusing to say how they would deal with the finances.
Referring to the Greens and Reform UK he claimed that “the further away from power you get the more radical the manifestos become” which include “radical but entirely unattainable” pledges.
We will bring you all the updates on the IFS manifesto analysis once it’s been published at noon.
Salma Ouaguira24 June 2024 08:59
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Streeting defends Labour plans for gender transition
Labour shadow health secretary Wes Streeting has defended the party’s plans to change the “outdated” gender recognition laws including making it easier to receive a gender certificate
Asked whether some party members could feel uncomfortable with the move, he said: “I think there are lots of people who’ve been reassured by Labour’s position on this.”
He said there have been “difficult conversations”, both in the party and across the country on the topic.
He added: “We have had some tension between how you treat trans people with dignity and respect and inclusion, and also make sure that women’s rights, voices, spaces are protected.
“And… I feel very optimistic about the fact that we can reconcile those two things and move forward together as a country.
“If we have a political culture that’s about bringing people together – and navigating our way through these conversations with respect, genuinely listening to different perspectives, rather than seeing these differences as divisions to be exploited.”
(Sky News)
Salma Ouaguira24 June 2024 08:42
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Minister accuses broadcaster of suggesting ‘someone is guilty until proven innocent’ when asked about betting scandal
Chris Heaton-Harris has accused a broadcaster of “trying to suggest someone is guilty until proven innocent” when asked why Rishi Sunak would not take robust action over the betting allegations.
Asked whether the Prime Minister should ask Craig Williams when he placed his bet, the Northern Ireland Secretary told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if that conversation has been had but you asked me if I knew, and I don’t.”
Mr Heaton-Harris added he would not provide any extra comment on an ongoing investigation when asked if Mr Sunak is confident the bet was properly placed.
Asked why the Prime Minister cannot take what former minister Tobias Ellwood has called “robust action”, he told presenter Mishal Husain: “I think what you’re trying to suggest is that someone is guilty until they’re proven innocent and that is not how this works.”
Jabed Ahmed24 June 2024 08:42
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Voters will be looking at tax plans not betting scandal, minister claims
A Tory minister has said voters at the general election will be looking at who is planning to cut taxes and immigration, not the betting scandal engulfing the party, Archie Mitchell reports.
Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris was asked by BBC Radio 4’s Today programme whether the scandal would cost the Conservatives seats at the election.
Mr Heaton-Harris said: “I actually don’t know… people decide how they vote on a whole host of things. I would imagine most people will be looking at whether they want a Conservative government that will reduce their taxes or a Labour government that will increase them.
“Whether they want a Labour government that will no doubt bring higher immigration figures and what they’ll cut immigration.”
Salma Ouaguira24 June 2024 08:25
Read the full story on www.independent.co.uk
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/general-election-2024-sunak-starmer-betting-scandal-b2567559.html