The betgate scandal has intensified after Scotland Secretary Alister Jack revealed that he placed bets on the date of the General Election. Although Jack denied breaking any rules, he admitted to putting three wagers on the timing of the July 4 poll, making him the seventh politician embroiled in the scandal.
In April, Jack bet £20 at odds of 5-to-1 on an election being held between July and September. He claimed he had no prior knowledge of the election date until Rishi Sunak announced it on May 22. The BBC reported that Jack made over £2,000 from betting on the date, but he later dismissed those comments as a “joke.”
In a statement released late on Tuesday, Jack clarified that he had not breached any gambling rules. He also revealed that in March, he placed two unsuccessful £5 bets—one for a vote in May and another for June—before making the third wager in April.
The SNP called for Jack to disclose full details of his wager, while the Liberal Democrats accused the Tories of being mired in “sleaze and scandal” that eroded public trust in politics. Meanwhile, Labour suspended candidate Kevin Craig for betting that he would lose to the Tories in the Central Suffolk and North Ipswich contest.
Rishi Sunak, facing mounting pressure within the party, withdrew support for two Tory candidates involved in the betting scandal. Cabinet minister Mel Stride defended Sunak’s decision, emphasising clarity and robustness.
The controversy continues to unfold, casting a shadow over the upcoming General Election and prompting scrutiny of politicians’ actions in the high-stakes world of political betting.
