Bristol Conservative candidate loses backing of party

The Conservative Party has withdrawn its support of its General Election candidate in North Bristol.

Laura Saunders has been caught up in the ongoing allegations regarding betting on the date of the General Election.

She is one of a number of individuals being investigated by the Gambling Commission.

Craig Williams, the candidate in Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr, and Saunders, the candidate in Bristol North West, have both lost the support of the Conservative Party.

It emerged earlier last week that Rishi Sunak’s aide Craig Williams had reportedly placed a £100 bet on a July polling day, three days before Sunak announced the date.

Laura Saunders, the Conservative candidate for Bristol North West, and her partner Tony Lee, the Conservative director of campaigning, are also being looked at by the Gambling Commission.

Nick Mason, the party’s chief data officer, is also under investigation.

A spokesperson for the Conservative Party said: “As a result of ongoing internal enquiries, we have concluded that we can no longer support Craig Williams or Laura Saunders as Parliamentary Candidates at the forthcoming General Election.

“We have checked with the Gambling Commission that this decision does not compromise the investigation that they are conducting, which is rightly independent and ongoing.”

Meanwhile the Gambling Commission has told the Met Police that five further police officers are alleged to have placed bets related to the date of the election,

Only one officer – whose case was previously reported – is under criminal investigation.