The investigation into UK politicians’ bets on the general election has widened, with a second candidate now reportedly being probed by the Gambling Commission.
BBC News reports that Bristol North West hopeful Laura Saunders, like Craig Williams last week, made a bet on the timing of the general election.
Separately, the BBC also says a police officer in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s close protection team has been suspended and arrested after making a similar wager.
In the probe involving Saunders, a Conservative spokesperson said the party has been contacted by the Gambling Commission about a “small number of individuals.”
“As the Gambling Commission is an independent body, it wouldn’t be proper to comment further, until any process is concluded,” the spokesperson added.
The BBC added that the Metropolitan Police contacted the news organisation about the police officer in question last Friday.
The Met said the Gambling Commission informed the police force that it was “investigating alleged bets made by a police constable from its royalty and specialist protection command.”
The officer was arrested on Monday on suspicion of misconduct in police office before being taken into custody and bailed “pending further enquiries.”
The Independent Office for Police Conduct, the police watchdog, is also probing the case.
“The Met said the Gambling Commission continues to lead the investigation into the alleged betting offences, and ‘our investigation is running in parallel to that’,” the BBC said.
Voters in the UK are set to go to the polls on July 4.
