Candidate Kevin Craig has been suspended by the Labour Party following an investigation by the Gambling Commission into his betting on the election result in the Central Suffolk and North Ipswich constituency. Craig admitted betting on the Conservatives to win, stating he believed he wouldn't secure the seat and intended to donate any winnings to charity. Following this revelation, Labour withdrew its support for Craig and returned £100,000 in donations he had made.
The betting scandal extends beyond Labour, with the Conservative Party withdrawing support from two candidates, Craig Williams and Laura Saunders, also under investigation for similar allegations. Williams, a former parliamentary aide to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Saunders, running in Bristol North West, will remain on the ballot due to nomination deadlines.
Additionally, the Gambling Commission passed information to the Metropolitan Police regarding five more officers allegedly placing bets related to the election date, bringing the total under scrutiny to six. The scandal has overshadowed electoral campaigns as the parties manage the fallout ahead of the July 4 election.