The Conservative Party has withdrawn its support for Craig Williams and Laura Saunders amid a row over bets placed on the date of the general election.
A Conservative Party spokesperson 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.”
The prime minister had come under pressure to take action following the revelations over the past couple of weeks.
Williams, who served as Rishi Sunak’s parliamentary private secretary, is seeking re-election in Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr, He admitted last week he “put a flutter” on a July poll three days before the prime minister called the election.
Saunders is standing in Bristol North West. Her husband Tony Lee was the Conservative director of campaigning but has now taken a “leave of absence” while he is also investigated.
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