Ex-UK Deputy PM Interviewed amid Election Betting Probe

Ahead of the General Election in the UK, a massive betting-related scandal erupted. The case involved politicians and police officers who fell under scrutiny over allegations of placing bets on the date of the election.

Nearly two dozen individuals were investigated over political betting and using insider information to place bets for the election date ahead of its announcement. Now, the list of people under scrutiny continues to grow, as suggested by a new report.

GC Questioned the Former Deputy PM

Earlier in the year, the Gambling Commission (GC), the gambling regulatory in the UK, investigated Craig Williams, Rishi Sunak’s former parliamentary aide, as well as Liam Booth-Smith, Sunak’s former Downing Street chief of staff. Now, as announced by Sky News, another parliamentarian close to Sunak is in the sights of the country’s gambling regulator.

This time, the Commission reportedly interviewed Sir Oliver Dowden, the former deputy prime minister. Citing sources close to the matter, the publication revealed that the former senior cabinet minister currently isn’t under investigation and has never been under investigation by the GC.

What’s known about the Commission’s interest in Sir Dowden is that he isn’t suspected of political betting. Instead, he reportedly answered to questions by investigators looking into other political figures’ potential involvement in the betting scandal. Reportedly, Dowden’s interview with the GC dates back to this summer.

The Political Betting Probe Continues

The publication also pointed to one of its unnamed sources, revealing that the investigation into bets on the general election is still ongoing. “Hundreds of documents have been seized by the Gambling Commission from CCHQ,” explained the same source.

In addition, the gambling regulator expanded its workforce by reportedly hiring former police officers and analysts as investigators who can play a key role in the political betting probe and possibly future investigations of similar caliber. After the launch of the GC’s probe in June, the investigation is expected to continue for another three to six months.

The news about the massive betting scandal shook the UK ahead of the General Election. Surprisingly, rivals from the Labor and Conservatives were both entangled in the scandal that loomed for several months.

Earlier this month, new research suggested that an overwhelming part of the Brits or 76%, supported a ban on political betting applicable to people involved in politics. The majority favored the idea of imposing a complete ban on such wagers, specifically for politically exposed people.