The betting scandal continues to overshadow the general election campaign trail, with reports more police officers are being investigated. One officer has already been arrested and questioned in connection with bets allegedly placed before Rishi Sunak announced the date of the general election. More officers are now being probed by the Gambling Commission in a scandal that has already drawn in four named Conservative figures, according to the BBC. The Met Police has denied leaking the names of the Tories involved, with prime minister facing growing calls to suspend Conservative candidates Craig Williams and Laura Saunders. Northern Ireland minister Steve Baker said placing bets on the 4 July date was “disreputable” and education secretary Gillian Keegan said the saga is “terrible” for the party.
General election – latest: More Met Police officers investigated as betting scandal dominates Sunak’s campaign
Tory election betting probe: ‘Totally unacceptable’ if rules broken says Welsh secretary
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The betting scandal continues to overshadow the general election campaign trail, with reports more police officers are being investigated.
One officer has already been arrested and questioned in connection with bets allegedly placed before Rishi Sunak announced the date of the general election.
More officers are now being probed by the Gambling Commission in a scandal that has already drawn in four named Conservative figures, according to the BBC.
The Met Police has denied leaking the names of the Tories involved, with prime minister facing growing calls to suspend Conservative candidates Craig Williams and Laura Saunders.
Northern Ireland minister Steve Baker said placing bets on the 4 July date was “disreputable” and education secretary Gillian Keegan said the saga is “terrible” for the party.
It comes as James Cleverly and Yvette Cooper went head to head on LBC on an LBC immigration debate this morning as they clashed over spouse visas and the annual cap on migration.
Key Points
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Cleverly does not ‘envisage’ the Uk leaving ECHR
James Cleverly and Yvette Cooper have been quizzed over their views on leaving the European Court of Human Rights.
Although many Tories voiced their intention to leave the ECHR, Mr Cleverly said he does not “envisage” this happening.
Ms Cooper said Labour will abide by international law and warned against aligning with countries like Russia.
(LBC)
Salma Ouaguira25 June 2024 09:56
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Cooper: Migration needs to be ‘controlled and managed’
Yvette Copper has been asked by LBC’s Nick Ferrari whether she agrees with the Tories that immigration is putting a toll on public services.
The shadow Home Secretary has said migration is valuable and people who have done “incredible things” for public sectors should be welcomed.
“But the system has to be controlled and managed,” she adds.
Salma Ouaguira25 June 2024 09:47
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Daily Record backs Labour in first endorsement in 14 years
Salma Ouaguira25 June 2024 09:43
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Sunak and Starmer to attend state banquet with Japanese emperors
Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer will take a break from the general election campaign to sit together at today’s banquet with the Japanese Emperors.
It is part of a Japanese state visit by Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako to the UK hosted by The King and Queen.
The state banquet will take place at Buckingham palace.
Salma Ouaguira25 June 2024 09:42
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Cleverly slams Labour net migration plans a ‘Damascus-style conversion’
James Cleverly has claimed Labour will allow the UK to become a net recipient of migration with its commitment to cut migration numbers.
The Home Secretary said: “They talk about wanting to bring this down but this is a road to Damascus-style conversion now that there is an election on and the measures that I have already taken will reduce by about 300,000, so 300,000 fewer people will be eligible to come under the arrangements that I have put in place compared with previously and this was opposed by Labour over and over again.”
Responding to the attack, Yvette Cooper has accused the Home Secretary of “lying” and said the Government’s migration measures was “simply made up”.
(LBC)
Salma Ouaguira25 June 2024 09:31
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Cooper refuses to set a target for ‘significant reduction’ in net migration
Yvette Cooper has promised to deliver a “significant reduction” in net migration but refused to set a target.
The shadow Home Secretary told LBC: “We don’t think it is right to have a particular number target.
“We do think it is right to have a significant reduction and we do think that net migration needs to come down and we have set out a plan to reduce it.”
Asked what “significant” actually means, the Labour frontbencher said: “We have seen repeated Conservative governments set these targets that then end up being discredited and we think it is important to build confidence in the system and to be serious.”
Salma Ouaguira25 June 2024 09:24
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Cooper denies Labour opposed caps on migrant visas
James Cleverly has accused Labour of opposing the salary threshold on spouse visas and the annual cap on migration.
But Yvette Cooper has hit back at the Cabinet minster and accused him of lying.
She said: “James keeps saying this but it is simply made up. Some of the measures you mentioned, we brought them in.”
The shadow Home Secretary claims she supported the salary threshold on spouse visas and vowed to continue with the changes.
(LBC)
Salma Ouaguira25 June 2024 09:19
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Conservative pledges on immigration:
Remove student discount on visa health surcharge.Increase visa fees.Bring a legal cap on migration.Kick off the Rwanda scheme and send asylum seekers on regular flights.Halve migration then reduce every year.
Salma Ouaguira25 June 2024 09:14
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Labour pledges on immigration:
Cancel the Rwanda scheme.Increase security cooperation with EU.Give police more powers to search suspected people smugglers by implementing a Border Command Force.Train more UK workers and ban employers recruiting from overseas asa default.Hire 1,000 more caseworkers to return more asylum seekers.Abolish non-dom status.(LBC)
Salma Ouaguira25 June 2024 09:12
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LBC Immigration debate: Cleverly head to head with Cooper
Nick Ferrari starts the debate asking James Cleverly and Yvette Cooper about why should voters trust them to run the Home Office.
Mr Cleverly answers first, saying: “This election is about a choice, and the choice they have in front of them is the Conservative Party.”
The party was “committed to stopping the boats and committed to making sure legal and illegal migration are reduced and that’s in stark contrast to the Labour Party”, he added.
Ms Cooper said that after 14 years of Conservative government “it really feels like everything is broken”, adding: “And the chaos has got worse and worse and worse. It is time for change.”
(LBC)
Salma Ouaguira25 June 2024 09:08
Read the full story on www.independent.co.uk
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/general-election-2024-sunak-starmer-betting-scandal-b2568290.html