The UK election is adding a layer of ridicule to the already messy political situation, especially for the Conservatives. But now this scandal is spreading to Labour.
On 12 June it was revealed that Craig Williams, Rishi Sunak’s closest parliamentary aide, was under investigation by the Gambling Commission for betting on an election in July, three days before it was called.
It has since emerged that the investigation extends to at least four other Conservatives, six police officers and a Labor candidate. All people he gained from the confidential information he had at his disposal. Is
So politicians and technicians who had confidential information used it to make money in the way most loved by the English: betting.
Furthermore, this investigation reinforces an idea that citizens already have, throughout Europe, indeed throughout the world: that is, that there is a law and a moral guide for citizens and then, instead, there is one for politicians, who do what they want.
Like Partygate and the expenses, the gambling scandal has been impossible to ignore or shut down, because it has involved a constant drip of damaging revelations.
The dispute escalated further over the weekend, when the Sunday Times reported that Nick Mason, the Conservative party’s chief data officer, was being investigated by the gambling watchdog for placing dozens of small bets that would cumulatively win him thousands of pounds. He denied committing any wrongdoing.
On Tuesday the Metropolitan Police announced that five more police officers were being investigated in relation to suspicious bets on the election date, and a few hours later the Guardian revealed that a fifth Conservative, Russell George, was under investigation.
The Conservatives attempted to handle the controversy in a similar way to Partygate, seeking to downplay the issue until further developments left them with no choice but to strengthen their response.
Sunak initially said he was disappointed by Williams’ actions but that it was a matter of vigilance. After other conservatives got involved, he said he was “incredibly angry.” Finally, after trying to weather the controversy for a week, the Prime Minister on Tuesday withdrew support for Williams and Saunders and launched an internal inquiry.
Then the scandal spread to the Labour Party, which now finds itself with a problem similar to the one the Conservatives are facing. The scandal is such that it throws a further level of discredit on a political class that, between Stermer and Sunak, has so far given a terrible performance, between left-wing maximalism and an incompetent and rigid government.
The only one laughing now is Nigel Farage.
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