Tories ARE still in the fight…betting scandal is just a distraction, declares Health Sec

THE Health Secretary admitted that the election betting scandal has “frustrated” the Tory campaign for reelection – but vowed that they are still “very much” in the running for victory.

Victoria Atkins has said she is “angry and disappointed” at colleagues accused of having a flutter on the polling date.

She told The Sun’s Never Mind The Ballots she has never placed a political bet in her life – and did not even gamble on a trip to casino-capital Las Vegas. 

Labour has been dragged into the betting scandal with Sir Keir Starmer suspending candidate Kevin Craig for allegedly betting against himself. 

It is understood that up to 15 Conservatives are currently under investigation by the Gambling Commission.

Speaking on our show this morning, she said: “Betting is very much not my thing. I’ve just remembered that I’m probably one of the few people that, when I went to Las Vegas on holiday I didn’t lay a single bet, so I’m certainly not into betting either.

“I’ve never laid a political bet in my life, it wouldn’t occur to me to do so. The fact that there has been this public discourse and distaste about it, first of all I hope that anyone even thinking of it would think twice and not do so, but we should definitely have a longer term conversation about that because I can well understand why people are upset about it. 

“We are frustrated as in the middle of a General Election campaign we want to be talking about our policies and I’d love to talk about my health policies. 

“We’ve got this enormous democratic test in just over a weeks time and that’s what we should be focussing on.” 

Ms Atkin’s cabinet colleague Mel Stride has hinted this morning that politicians should not bet as the gambling row continues to overshadow the last week of the campaign. 

The Work and Pensions Secretary said there should be a debate about political betting but “I would just say that people shouldn’t do it”.

Asked if MPs should be banned from having a flutter, Mr Stride said: “Quite possibly and I think we do need to have a debate about it.”

He added: “My personal view, I would just say that people shouldn’t do it, but I think we should have a debate about it more broadly.

“But let me be very, very clear: by saying that, I totally recognise that using inside information, as may have been the case for certain individuals in this way, is utterly wrong.”

The Conservative Party earlier withdrew support for Craig Williams and Laura Saunders after they were named in a probe into suspicious bets on the date of the election.

Ms Saunders’ husband Tony Lee, who runs the party’s local campaign units, is on a “leave of absence” after it was reported last week that he was also being probed by the gambling watchdog.

The Gambling Commission has also said it believes five more Met cops could also have put punts on the date Britain would go the polls.

A close protection officer from the Met Police was arrested last Monday on suspicion of misconduct in public office in relation to another bet.

Mr Williams, the PM’s private parliamentary secretary, Ms Saunders and Tory HQ chief data officer Nick Mason are reported to have placed wagers worth as much as £100 each.

It is understood the regulator is probing all election date bets worth more than £20 amid a huge spike in market activity in the days leading up to the PM’s announcement on May 22.

It comes some 13 days after Mr Williams, reportedly in line for a knighthood, admitted betting on the election date just days before his boss announced it.

The top Rishi aide conceded he made a “huge error of judgement” over the £100 punt and added he would continue campaigning to win his marginal Montgomeryshire seat.

Rishi Sunak told The Sun’s election showdown on Monday that he was “as angry as anyone” over the betting allegations.

The dramatic developments came just hours after the PM claimed he was “as angry as anyone” over the affair.

He said anyone involved would “face the full consequences” and be “booted out of the Conservative Party”.

Sunak added: “I’ve been crystal clear, if anyone has broken the rules and not upheld the standards, I would expect they will be held to account.”

Speaking to reporters this morning, shadow Secretary of State of Climate Change and Net Zero Ed Miliband claimed there had been a “glaring contrast” between the way Sunak and Starmer have dealt with a gambling row.

He said: “Rishi Sunak had to be dragged kicking and screaming a week after the revelations and goodness knows how long after the Conservative Party knew about them to withdraw his support from two candidates.

“As soon as Keir Starmer and the Labour Party knew there was an inquiry going on by the Gambling Commission, we suspended our support for our candidate, and I think that was the right thing to do.

“I think it is exactly what the British people want to see, a leader who will put the country first, not their party.”