UK Police Drop Probe Into Conservative Party Insider Betting

The Metropolitan Police (the Met) in London has wrapped up its investigation into the betting scandal that clouded the UK's general election campaign on July 4.

According to the Met, no one under investigation will face charges related to misbehavior in public office. They might, therefore, still face charges for cheating on a gaming wager under the gaming Act.

Numerous prominent Conservatives are being investigated by the Gambling Commission for allegedly using information that only a small number of people knew to place bets on when the election would take place. The bets were purportedly made just a few days prior to the announcement of the "snap" election by Rishi Sunak, the prime minister at the time.

 

The Fall of the Conservatives

One of the things that led to the Conservative Party's overwhelming loss in the election was the controversy. According to a poll conducted by research tank Demos, the episode has further reduced voters' faith in the party's capacity to rule.

Craig Williams, Sunak's main assistant at the time, was one of those charged. Williams has said he wagered £100 at odds of 5/1 on a July election.

Tony Lee, the director of campaigns for the Conservative Party, is also included in the picture. Following the controversy, Williams and Laura Saunders, Lee's spouse, withdrew from the race as potential Members of Parliament.

To the Met's embarrassing surprise, "at least seven" of its own officers—one of whom served in Sunak's protection detail—were also looked into for possible insider election betting. The Gambling Commission and the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards are looking into their cases.

 

High Standards Not Reached

A life sentence to prison is the maximum punishment for the serious crime of misconduct in public office. However, the Crown Prosecution concluded that the "high bar for misconduct in public office to be proven was not met" after looking over the senior Conservatives' case.

"It has therefore been agreed between the Met and the Gambling Commission that the more appropriate criminal offences to progress with would be those under the Gambling Act.” a Met spokesperson said. “While our involvement in the criminal investigation now ceases, it’s important that is not misinterpreted as an all-clear for those whose cases were looked at.”

The UK Gambling Law forbids "cheating at gambling," although it doesn't specify what exactly constitutes this. Therefore, it's uncertain if insider betting qualifies as cheating under the law.