If the closest aide gambles with the confidential election date, it is not to the benefit of the troubled prime minister.
In the United Kingdom, you can bet on pretty much anything: horses, football, cricket – and now even on the Conservative Party making a daily faux pas. The latest faux pas is being investigated by the British gambling regulator, the Gambling Commission. They want to find out whether 10 Downing Street has not only been governing recently, but has also been betting illegally. For example, when the parliamentary elections will take place.
Investigations in the closest entourage
There has been a lot of speculation about the date in recent weeks. People were expecting the vote to take place in late autumn. When Rishi Sunak announced July 4, everyone was surprised. But maybe not everyone. A few days ago it was revealed that Rishi Sunak’s parliamentary private secretary had bet £100 on this date.
The wife of the Conservative Party’s campaign manager and a bodyguard for the Prime Minister also apparently made a similar bet. The gambling regulator does not believe in coincidence or telepathy. It is investigating betting using insider information. This is a criminal offence, says a spokesman for the commission.
Another blow for Sunak
In the final phase of the election campaign, this story comes at a rather inconvenient time for Rishi Sunak. When he took office, he promised to restore decency and dignity to 10 Downing Street. That didn’t seem to be too difficult. After the escapades of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, the Richter scale for shamelessness had definitely been exhausted.
Legend:
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was in Wales on his election campaign tour on Friday, June 21, 2024. At a farm in Treuddyn, he served the spicy fruit bread Bara Brith.
Keystone/AP Pool Getty Images Europe/Leon Neal
That was not the case. Conservative parliamentarians made headlines for sexual harassment, fraud, bribery and pornography consumption during a parliamentary debate. That the Prime Minister’s closest aides are gambling with confidential information about when their boss might have to resign is therefore not really a surprise to many.
If the bet is no longer valid
Ironically, just a few days ago the Conservative Party published the election slogan “If you bet on Labour, you’re sure to lose.” The poster was hastily removed.
Evil tongues are already saying that we can only hope that the Conservatives will not leave the lightbulbs running before they are almost certain to have to leave 10 Downing Street in two weeks. Because with such games you not only lose the election, but also all trust.