Election betting scandal
- Labour candidate suspended
- Party to return £100,000 in donations
- Dropped Tory candidate vows to 'clear name'
- More police officers accused of betting on election date
- Explained:Will dropped Tory candidates still appear on ballots?
- Live reporting by Faith Ridler and (earlier)Tim Baker
Other news
- Coming up on Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge from 7pm
- Car crash outside PM's country house
- Badenoch hits back at Doctor Who star
- Reform drops in new poll after Farage's Putin comments
- Starmer says children 'worried' about possible move into No 10
Election essentials
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- Trackers:Who's leading polls?|Is PM keeping promises?
- Campaign Heritage:Memorable moments from elections gone by
- Follow Sky's politics podcasts:Electoral Dysfunction|Politics At Jack And Sam's
- Read more:Who is standing down?|Key seats to watch|What counts as voter ID?|Check if your constituency is changing|Guide to election lingo|Sky's election night plans
Suspended Labour candidate apologises 'unreservedly' for 'huge mistake'
Kevin Craig has apologised for the "huge mistake" he made in betting against himself to win the seat in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich.
The Labour candidate has been suspended from the party pending an investigation.
In a statement posted on social media, Mr Craig explained that he has "enjoyed the odd bet for fun whether on politics or horses" throughout his life.
He adds: "A few weeks ago when I thought I would never win this seat I put a bet on the Tories to win here with the intention of giving any winnings to local charities.
"While I did not place this bet with any prior knowledge of the outcome, this was a huge mistake, for which I apologise unreservedly.
"I have so much respect for how Keir Starmer has changed the Labour Party and I have been fighting so hard to win this seat and change the country alongside him.
"However, it is right that the party upholds the highest standards for its parliamentary candidates - just as the public expects the highest standards from any party hoping to serve in government."
The other candidates in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich are:
- Charlie Caiger, independent;
- Tony Gould, Reform UK;
- Mike Hallatt, independent;
- Brett Alistair Mickelburgh, Lib Dems;
- Dan Pratt, Greens;
- Patrick Spencer, Conservatives.
Car crashes into barriers at PM's country house
A car has crashed into the barriers at the entrance of the prime minister's country residence.
Police are investigating after the incident at Chequers in Aylesbury earlier today - and the driver has been arrested.
He is a 44-year-old man from Buckinghamshire, and has been taken to hospital with serious injuries.
He's been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and drink-driving.
He was the only occupant of the vehicle, a white Volkswagen Scirocco.
Thames Valley Police said officers are "in the very early stages" of their investigation, but "there is currently no evidence to suggest there was any intention to harm anyone".
Coming up on Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge
Our weeknight politics showPolitics Hub With Sophy Ridgewill be live on Sky News from 7pm.
The fast-paced programme dissects the inner workings of Westminster, with interviews, insights, and analysis - bringing you, the audience, into the corridors of power.
Sophy will be joined tonight by Plaid Cymru's Rhun ap Iorwerth for her latest interview with party leaders ahead of the election.
Also on the show is Tory peer Baroness Nicky Morgan, the former education and culture secretary.
On Sophy's panel tonight are:
- Tim Loughton, former Conservative MP;
- Andrew Fisher, former head of policy for Jeremy Corbyn.
Watch live on Sky News, in the stream at the top of this page, and follow live updates here in the Politics Hub.
WatchPolitics Hubfrom 7pm every night during the election campaign on Sky channel 501, Virgin channel 602, Freeview channel 233, on theSky News websiteandappor onYouTube.
Labour to return suspended candidate's donations
Labour will return the £100,000 Kevin Craig has donated to the party under Keir Starmer's leadership, Sky News understands.
It comes after he was suspended as the party's candidate for the constituency of Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, having been placed under investigation by the Gambling Commission.
Sky News understands Mr Craig placed a bet that he would lose the contest next Thursday (see 17.07 post).
The other candidates in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich are:
- Charlie Caiger, independent;
- Tony Gould, Reform UK;
- Mike Hallatt, independent;
- Brett Alistair Mickelburgh, Lib Dems;
- Dan Pratt, Greens;
- Patrick Spencer, Conservatives.
Labour suspends candidate over gambling scandal
Labour has suspended a parliamentary candidate after being told the Gambling Commission has launched an investigation into them, a party spokeswoman has said.
Kevin Craig, the candidate for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, has been suspended from the party pending an investigation.
It comes in the midst of a scandal over informed betting on the date of the election, with the Conservatives today withdrawing support for two candidates.
However, Sky News understands Mr Craig put a bet on the outcome of his seat - that he would lose - rather than the date of the election.
He is also understood to be the CEO of communications agency PLMR, which runs the Responsible Gambling Week initiative.
The seat had previously been held by Tory defector Dan Poulter.
A Labour spokesperson said: "With Keir Starmer as leader, the Labour Party upholds the highest standards for our parliamentary candidates, as the public rightly expects from any party hoping to serve, which is why we have acted immediately in this case."
The other candidates in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich are:
- Charlie Caiger, independent;
- Tony Gould, Reform UK;
- Mike Hallatt, independent;
- Brett Alistair Mickelburgh, Lib Dems;
- Dan Pratt, Greens;
- Patrick Spencer, Conservatives.
It's 5pm - here's your teatime general election bulletin.
Today has had a heavy focus on the Conservative betting scandal - but there's been plenty more for us to sink our teeth into.
- The Conservatives have announced they will no longer be supporting the two candidates being investigated over placing bets on the election date;
- Laura Saunders and Craig Williams will still appear in on their respective ballots - but won't be supported by the party;
- Mr Williams has since shared a video statement, claiming he "committed an error of judgement, not an offence" and insisting: "I intend to clear my name";
- Meanwhile, a war of words has erupted between women's minister Kemi Badenoch and Doctor Who actor David Tennant. The actor had said he wished Ms Badenoch would "shut up" while accepting an accolade at the British LGBT Awards;
- In response, the minister said: "I will not be silenced by men who prioritise applause from Stonewall over the safety of women and girls."
- Labour, meanwhile, has announced plans to tackle knife crime;
- Sir Keir appeared at an event with actor Idris Elba as they discussed introducing a long-term strategy to tackle the issue;
- Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper has taken part in an hour-long debate with Conservative Home Secretary James Cleverly, taking in both legal and illegal migration;
- The minister said he does not "envisage" a Tory government leaving the European Court of Human Rights, despite the PM's threats to do so;
- And Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has opened up about looking after his disabled son in an interview with Beth Rigby.
Don't forget, Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge is back tonight at 7pm.
And if you're heading home from work, you might also be interested intoday's Electoral Dysfunction, all about that photo of Sir Keir and his wife enjoying a Taylor Swift concert at Wembley.
What are the key issues for voters in Wales?
Wales is a Labour heartland, but it's clearly in the sights of other parties during this election campaign.
Reform UK even launched its manifesto in a town in the south of the country, Merthyr Tydfil.
Although Wales has its own parliament and makes most of its own decisions, they still elect MPs who stand in Westminster.
Sky's Wales reporter Tomos Evans explains how the cost of living, steel industry and nuclear energy will be key issues for voters.
Poll tracker: Where do the parties stand today?
Our live poll tracker collates the results of opinion surveys carried out by all the main polling organisations - and allows you to see how the political parties are performing in the run-up to the general election.
It shows a drop in support in recent days for Labour and the Tories - with a jump for Reform and the Liberal Democrats.
Read more about the tracker here.
'I will not be silenced': Minister hits back at Doctor Who actor... who said he wished she would 'shut up'
Last night, actor David Tennant urged Kemi Badenoch - the minister for women and equalities - to "shut up" as he accepted the celebrity ally accolade at the British LGBT Awards.
Accepting the trophy, the Doctor Who star said "we shouldn't live in a world" where "acknowledging everyone has the right to be who they want to be" should merit an award.
But "until we wake up, and Kemi Badenoch doesn't exist any more", he said he was happy to receive it.
"I don't wish ill of her - I just wish she would shut up," he said of Ms Badenoch.
He went on to say Pride is a "family affair" for him, adding: "We have skin in the game."
But Ms Badenoch has now responded to his comments, saying: "I will not be silenced by men who prioritise applause from Stonewall over the safety of women and girls."
Posting on X, she described him as a "rich, lefty, white male celebrity who can't see the optics of attacking the only black woman in government by calling publicly for my existence to end".
"Tennant is one of Labour's celebrity supporters," she added. "This is an early example of what life will be like if they win."
Tory betting scandal: What is the law around gambling?
By Alix Culbertson, political reporter
The Conservatives have withdrawn support for two candidates who are being investigated over placing election bets.
There are strict rules around gambling.
Section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005 deals with cheating and says a person commits an offence if they cheat at gambling or do "anything for the purpose of enabling or assisting another person to cheat at gambling".
It adds: "It is immaterial whether a person who cheats improves his changes of winning anything, or wins anything."
Cheating is defined as an "actual or attempted deception or interference in connection with the process by which gambling is conducted, or a real or virtual game, race or other event or process to which gambling relates".
Someone found guilty of cheating at gambling can be imprisoned for a maximum of two years and/or fined, or six months in prison for a lesser offence.
Betting with insider knowledge is also not allowed as an MP, with the MPs' code of conduct prohibiting members from "causing significant damage to the reputation and integrity of the house".
