Chief Data Officer of the Conservative Party Nick Mason is facing regulatory scrutiny over his alleged partaking in betting, according to the Sunday Times, making him the fourth Tory official to be involved in the evolving scandal. The Gambling Commission has accused him of having placed dozens of bets tied to the general election, specifically on when it would be held. The wagers in question were a part of the niche yet popular betting market known as political betting, which allows punters to stake money on various aspects of British and global politics alike.
News of Nick Mason’s involvement in the case follows last week’s revelations that three other Tory officials and a member of Rishi Sunak’s security team have allegedly engaged in betting misconduct. At present, it is known that Mr Mason has denied wrongdoing, and he has taken a leave of absence in light of the Commission’s regulatory actions. However, his spokesperson told reporters that no further commentary would be provided until further notice as it would be “inappropriate” given how the investigation is currently ongoing.
Last week, during an interview with the Sunday Times, Michael Gove drew comparisons between this scandal and the Partygate situation that saw Boris Johnson be at the receiving end of intense criticism from the public. The perceived hypocrisy of how the rules do not seem to apply equally to politicians and everyone else was “the most potentially damaging thing,” according to Mr Gove. He specifically placed focus on the issue of wagering with insider information, which gave political figures close to Rishi Sunak an advantage over ordinary bettors.
A Total of Five Individuals are Involved in the Case
It was Craig Williams who was first revealed to be under investigation by the Gambling Commission. By his own admission, Sunak’s parliamentary assistant had “put a flutter on the general election,” and he is currently cooperating with the Gambling Commission’s inquiry. Gambling giant Ladbrokes was the sportsbook that alerted the UKGC of Mr Williams’ alleged betting, particularly of a single £100 bet on when the general election would take place. The wager had been placed several days before Sunak’s official announcement that the election had been scheduled for July 4th. If proven guilty, Mr Williams could face legal consequences for wagering based on information not readily available to the public.
As reported by the BBC, Director of Campaigning Tony Lee and his wife, Laura Sanders, are also being investigated by the UKGC. No details have been given regarding the exact nature of the bets they have been accused of placing. Mr Lee is currently on leave due to the situation.
The last person involved in the scandal is a member of the Royalty and Specialist Protection Command. The unnamed individual used to be a personal protection detail of Rishi Sunak, but after being arrested over the betting allegations, he has since been let go of his position.
- Author
Daniel Williams
