The Metropolitan Police has concluded its investigation into allegations that senior Conservative officials, including an aide to Chancellor Rishi Sunak, placed bets on the date of the UK general election. The investigation was launched in conjunction with the Gambling Commission after revelations emerged that senior Tory officials and Sunak’s parliamentary aide, Craig Williams, placed bets shortly before the election date was announced in June. The probe aimed to determine whether these actions constituted “cheating” and potentially breached laws related to misconduct in public office.
During the investigation, an officer from Sunak’s close protection team was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, and seven other officers were alleged to have placed bets on the election date. Despite the seriousness of the allegations, the Metropolitan Police announced that the criminal investigation had concluded with no action being taken, due to a lack of evidence to meet the high bar for proving misconduct in public office. Detective Superintendent Katherine Goodwin emphasized that the allegations had caused significant damage to public confidence during the election campaign, and it was necessary to investigate all possible offences.
Goodwin stressed that although the Met’s involvement in the criminal investigation has ended, the allegations are still under investigation by the Gambling Commission, which could still result in criminal charges. The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards is also continuing to investigate the seven officers alleged to have placed bets on the election date. The scandal has raised concerns about the integrity of the election process and the behavior of those involved in the running of the party.
Rishi Sunak (Via Rishi Sunak/Twitter)
The affair has had significant repercussions for the Conservative Party, with two candidates forced to withdraw from the election after being implicated in the scandal, and several officials taking leaves of absence. A spokesperson for the Conservative Party declined to comment while the Gambling Commission’s investigation is ongoing. It is essential that the relevant authorities take the allegations seriously and conduct a thorough investigation to establish the facts. The public has a right to expect that those involved in the election process will act with integrity and transparency. The ongoing investigation by the Gambling Commission will undoubtedly provide further insight into the matter.
The investigation has left many questions unanswered, including whether the bets were placed in an attempt to influence the outcome of the election, or simply as a speculation exercise. However, the lack of evidence to prove misconduct in public office has led to the Met dropping its criminal investigation. It remains to be seen whether the Gambling Commission will find evidence of wrongdoing and bring charges. In the meantime, the Conservative Party is faced with the difficult task of rebuilding its reputation and restoring public trust.
