Yahoo News Scottish Secretary admits placing bets on general election date
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has admitted he placed bets on when the general election would be held.
But Mr Jack – who is not standing for re-election to the Dumfries and Galloway seat – has denied breaking gambling rules.
A number of Tory officials – including two parliamentary candidates – are under investigation from the Gambling Commission over allegations they placed bets on when the general election would take place just before Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on May 22 that voters would go to the polls on July 4.
Labour has also suspended a candidate and the Met Police is investigating six officers allegations.
However, Mr Jack claims that while he placed wagers on the expected date, he did so before May and was unaware of the date of the election until Mr Sunak’s announcement.
In a statement, Mr Jack said: “I am very clear that I have never, on any occasion, broken any Gambling Commission rules. I did not place any bets on the date of the general election during May – the period under investigation by the Gambling Commission.
“Furthermore, I am not aware of any family or friends placing bets.
“I want to be absolutely clear I have not breached any gambling rules. I placed two unsuccessful bets on the date of the general election and one successful one.”
Mr Jack claims the unsuccessful bets were placed in March for the election to be in May or June.
He added that he placed a £20 bet on an election being held between July and September at odds of five to one.
He said: “I had no knowledge of the date of the election until the day it was called.”
The BBC claims Mr Jack told them in April he had bet the election would be between July and September and that he had scooped a £2,100 windfall.
He later claimed this was “a joke”.
A spokesperson for the Gambling Commission said: “We are not confirming or denying the identity of any individuals involved in this investigation.”
