In an unexpected turn of events, one of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s bodyguards has been arrested following allegations of placing bets on the date of Britain’s national elections before the date was publicly announced. Authorities disclosed this incident on Wednesday.
The Metropolitan Police reported that an officer from the Royalty and Specialist Protection Command was taken into custody on Monday under suspicion of misconduct in public office. This arrest was initiated after the Gambling Commission, the regulatory body for the gaming industry, contacted the police, indicating “the possibility of violations relating to the date of the election” .
On May 22, Prime Minister Sunak officially declared that the general election would occur on July 4. This date was highly confidential and its announcement caught many within Mr. Sunak’s Conservative Party off guard, as the general expectation was for the elections to be scheduled in the fall.
Betting holds a significant place in British culture, with bookmakers offering odds on a wide array of events, from sports and elections to literary prizes. However, using inside information for betting purposes constitutes a criminal offense.
The officer in question, whose identity has not been disclosed in accordance with British police protocol, has been released on bail and suspended from duty pending further investigation.
In a related development, Craig Williams, a close aide to Sunak and a candidate for parliamentary re-election, revealed last week that he is under investigation by the Gambling Commission for placing a £100 bet on the July election date prior to its announcement. Williams acknowledged the ongoing “routine investigations” and assured full cooperation with the regulatory body. He expressed regret over his actions, stating, “I don’t want to be a distraction to the campaign. I should have thought about what this could mean.”
Melissa Enoch
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