June 19th 2024.
A member of the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's protection team has found themselves in hot water this week after being arrested for allegedly placing bets on the timing of the upcoming general election, according to police reports. The said constable, who was taken into custody on Monday, is being investigated for potential misconduct in public office, as confirmed by a spokesperson from the Metropolitan Police on Wednesday.
The incident came to light when the Gambling Commission reached out to the Met on June 14th, informing them of the constable's alleged involvement in betting activities related to the general election. As a result, the constable was immediately removed from their operational duties and the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards launched an investigation into the matter.
This arrest comes on the heels of a recent report by The Guardian, which revealed that one of Sunak's close aides had placed a £100 bet on a July election date before it was publicly announced. The aide, Craig Williams, later apologized for his actions, stating that it was a "huge error in judgment."
In response to the ongoing investigation, the Met spokesperson stated that the country's Gambling Commission is leading the probe into the alleged betting offenses, while their own investigation runs parallel to it. When approached for comment, the prime minister's press office declined to add anything further to the Met's statement.
Interestingly, just before the police released their statement, Sunak's Conservative Party shared a campaign ad on social media that read, "If you bet on Labour, you can never win," accompanied by a video of a roulette wheel. However, this ad received backlash from commenters who pointed out the irony of the situation, citing the news of the constable's arrest for betting on the election.
The general election is scheduled for July 4th, and current opinion polls show Sunak trailing behind the opposition Labour Party by around 20 points. This would mark their first win since 2005. Sunak's campaign has been facing numerous setbacks, with the latest being his apology for leaving the 80th anniversary commemorations of D-Day early to film a TV interview. This decision sparked outrage and disbelief among the British public.
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