Labour Campaign Coordinator, Pat McFadden, has written to the Gambling Commission asking for "maximum disclosure in the public interest of the Tory insider betting scandal". This follows a previous letter he sent to the Prime Minister concerning the betting scandal.
Pat McFadden's letter to the Gambling Commission:
Andrew Rhodes
CEO, Gambling Commission
Victoria Square House
Birmingham
82 4BP
23 June 2024
Dear Andrew
I am writing to you regarding the Gambling Commission's investigation into possible offences concerning bets made on the date of the election prior to it being called on 22 May.
It has been reported today in the Sunday Times that the Gambling Commission has identified 'several more people' who may have placed bets while having insider or privileged knowledge of the election date.
I am deeply concerned by this ongoing speculation which is casting a shadow over the election. The public will be rightly appalled that anyone close to the decision to call the election would use inside information to bet on an outcome they knew in advance.
As the Gambling Commission has repeatedly stated, someone using confidential information in order to gain unfair advantage when betting could constitute a criminal offence of cheating under section 42 of the Gambling Act.
With postal ballots already being sent out, many millions of people will be casting their vote this week. They deserve to have all relevant facts about this scandal at their disposal when doing so.
Information has already been shared naming some individuals who are either senior officials within the Conservative Party or seeking to stand as Conservative candidates in the upcoming election.
I believe it is in the public interest that the Gambling Commission makes public the names of other figures you are investigating relating to this matter. There will be particular interest in whether any Government Ministers bet on the date of the election before it was called.
Separately, I have been concerned to see the Conservative Party claim that they cannot make any comment on this matter, owing to your investigation. This is being used as justification for refusing to confirm or deny the identities of those implicated, preventing the public from knowing whether their local Conservative candidate, employees of the Conservative Party or members of the government were placing bets based on inside information. It also appears to have created a double standard where a serving police officer has been suspended and found themselves under police investigation, while Conservative candidates for Parliament have so far received no sanction.
Can you confirm whether there is anything stopping Cabinet Ministers from saying whether or not they placed bets on the date of the election before it was called?
In the interests of transparency, and to allow the public to be in full possession of the facts, I ask that you make available the widest possible information about how wide the circle spreads. In that spirit, will also be making this letter available to the public.
Yours sincerely
Pat McFadden
National Campaign Coordinator
https://twitter.com/patmcfaddenmp/status/1804904363279651019
