Conservative Party members under investigation for betting on UK election date
Gambling Commission investigating several individuals for allegedly placing bets on the election date before it was officially announced
Nick Mason, chief data officer of the Conservative Party, is one of those being investigated
One of Sunak's police protection officers was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office after allegedly placing a bet on the July polling day
Two Conservative election candidates, Craig Williams and Laura Saunders, are also under investigation
In the lead up to the UK's general election on July 4, a betting scandal has emerged involving members of Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party. The Gambling Commission is currently investigating several individuals for allegedly placing bets on the election date before it was officially announced.
According to reports, Nick Mason, the chief data officer of the Conservative Party, is one of those being investigated. He has taken a leave of absence from his position while the inquiry continues.
Two Conservative election candidates, Craig Williams and Laura Saunders, have also been identified as being under investigation by the Gambling Commission. Williams confirmed that he had placed a bet on the election date and will cooperate fully with the investigation.
One of Sunak's police protection officers was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office after allegedly placing a bet on the July polling day. The Metropolitan Police were contacted by the Gambling Commission regarding this matter.
The Conservative Party has not yet commented on the situation, but opposition parties and some members of Sunak's own party have called for those found to have broken the law to be expelled from the party.
This scandal comes at a time when public trust in the Conservatives is already low, following revelations of lockdown-flouting parties and gatherings in government buildings during the COVID-19 pandemic. The opposition Labour Party is widely expected to win the election on July 4.
Rishi Sunak stated he is not aware of any other Conservative election candidates being investigated by the Gambling Commission over alleged bets on the date of the general election.
The BBC understands that the Gambling Commission's inquiries involve more people than those publicly named so far and other people linked to the government are being investigated.
Accuracy
Five people connected to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak are being investigated for allegedly placing bets on the date of the July 4 election before it was announced.
Two Conservative election candidates, Laura Saunders and Craig Williams, are under investigation by the gambling watchdog.
Five people connected to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak are being investigated for allegedly placing bets on the date of the July 4 election before it was announced by Sunak on May 22.
Nick Mason, chief data officer for the Conservative Party, is being investigated by the Gambling Commission and has taken a leave of absence.
Conservative MP for Montgomeryshire Craig Williams confirmed he put a bet on the election date and will fully cooperate with the inquiry.
One of Sunak’s police protection officers was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office after Britain’s Metropolitan Police was contacted by the Gambling Commission about alleged bets made by a police officer on the July polling day.
Accuracy
Two Conservative election candidates, Laura Saunders and Craig Williams, are under investigation by the gambling watchdog.
Deception
(30%)
The article does not clearly state that April Roach is the one making assertions or providing opinions. It also does not editorialize. However, there are examples of selective reporting and emotional manipulation.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaking during a BBC Question Time Leaders' Special in York, Britain June 20, 2024. Stefan Rousseau | Via Reuters
The scandal comes amid sliding support for the Conservative Party, with one recent poll suggesting Sunak could be the first prime minister to lose his seat in a general election.
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(95%)
The author uses language that depicts those being investigated in a negative light by using the words 'scandal', 'allegations', and 'investigated'. She also quotes Keir Starmer using language that implies those involved should have been suspended immediately. These examples demonstrate a bias against those being investigated.
Calls are growing for Sunak to suspend the party figures who are being investigated by the Gambling Commission.
If it was one of my candidates, they'd be gone and their feet would not have touched the floor.
The scandal comes amid sliding support for the Conservative Party, with one recent poll suggesting Sunak could be the first prime minister to lose his seat in a general election.
The chief data officer of Britain’s Conservative Party, Nick Mason, has taken a leave of absence amid allegations that the party’s members used inside information to bet on the date of Britain’s July 4 national election before it was announced.
Two Conservative election candidates, Laura Saunders and Craig Williams, are under investigation by the gambling watchdog.
One of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s police bodyguards was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
Accuracy
]The chief data officer of Britain's Conservative Party, Nick Mason, has taken a leave of absence[
Nick Mason is the fourth Conservative official to be investigated by the U.K.'s Gambling Commission
Saunders’ husband Tony Lee, the Conservative director of campaigning, has also taken a leave of absence
Deception
(80%)
The article reports on an ongoing investigation into Conservative Party officials for alleged betting on the date of the UK election before it was announced. While there is no deception in the reporting of facts, there are instances of selective reporting and emotional manipulation that lower the score. The article focuses solely on the Conservative Party and their alleged wrongdoings, while ignoring any potential investigations into other parties or individuals. Additionally, phrases such as 'dealt a fresh blow to Sunak's Conservative Party' and 'widely expected to lose to the opposition Labour Party after 14 years in power' are emotionally manipulative and intended to elicit a negative response from readers.
It looks like one rule for them and one rule for us
The growing scandal, just two weeks ahead of the national election, has dealt a fresh blow to Sunak’s Conservative Party
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains a few instances of inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to authority. It uses phrases like 'growing scandal', 'widens as a fourth Conservative Party official reportedly investigated', and 'the governing party’s members used inside information'. The author also quotes Michael Gove comparing the alleged betting to 'Partygate' and calling it 'one rule for them and one rule for us'. Additionally, the article references the past scandal involving former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. These elements contribute to a sensationalized tone but do not necessarily constitute formal logical fallacies.
][The growing scandal, just two weeks ahead of the national election, has dealt a fresh blow to Sunak’s Conservative Party, which is widely expected to lose to the opposition Labour Party after 14 years in power.][Sunak said this week that he was “incredibly angry” to learn of the allegations and said that anyone found to have broken the law should be expelled from his party.][The arrest came after the gambling regulator confirmed it was investigating “the possibility of offences concerning the date of the election.”][
