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As the election gambling scandal stains the Conservative general election campaign, Rishi Sunak has seen his favorability hit a record low behind Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn with only 19 per cent of backing in a YouGov poll.
Tories are now being forced to deny they put a bet on the July 4 date with David TC Davies promising “he didn’t know when the election was coming”.
Mr Sunak admitted he is “incredibly angry” over the allegations that have engulfed fellow Tory members, but so far refused to suspend two candidates currently being investigated by the Gambling Commission, during last night’s BBCQuestion Time,
A former Tory minister has warned the saga could have damaging consequences for the party on the general election result. Paul Scully said the party is facing a “punishment election” as voters have further reasons to not back the Conservatives.
It comes as a gambling industry source said “more names” were being looked at over alleged wagers placed on the date of the 4 July election - in a crisis set to deepen for the Tories.
Key Points
- Sunak favourability hits record low
- Tories facing ‘punishment election'
- Sunak refuses to say if candidates will be suspended
- Sunak admits party has ‘made mistakes'
- David TC Davies denies he put bet on election
- National debt at highest level in 60 years
Winston Churchill’s great nephew backs Reform UK
Salma Ouaguira21 June 2024 12:21 1718968645Tories: Vaughan ‘squatting’ in Welsh Assembly
The leader of the Welsh Conservatives Andrew RT Davies has said Vaughan Gething is “swatting” in the Senedd.
The party leader attacked Mr Geething after he lost a vote of o confidence at the start of June but refused to resign.
During the Welsh Tory manifesto launch, Mr Davies said: “The first minister is at the moment standing in the chamber of welsh parliament with a vote of no confidence against him.
“Can you believe that? The leader of a country has lost a vote of no confidence. He’s squatting in the chamber of the assembly.
“He might well be claiming squatter’s rights, but let’s send him a clear message on 4 July that we won’t tolerate it anymore.”
Davey attacks PM’s response to ‘immoral’ betting claims
The Liberal Democrat leader has said the prime minister’s response to the betting scandal has not been “good enough”.
He said: “I think if people know the outcome of something and they bet on that, I think that’s immoral. I don’t think that looks.. I don’t think it’s right.
“Too often in this Parliament, we’ve seen the Conservative Party, sitting members of the Conservative Party, looking like they’re in it for themselves, not for public service and what’s in the best interest of the country. And so I hope you’ll take some tougher action.”
Salma Ouaguira21 June 2024 12:10 1718967832SNP investigated over ‘misuse’ of MSPs’ expenses to fund campaign
The SNP is being investigated by Holyrood over potential misuse of funds used to support the general election campaign.
An anonymous complaint has claimed the party gave Westminster candidates stamps paid for on MSP expenses.
The complaint reportedly shared a screenshot of a WhatsApp group of MSP staff discussing whether stamps can be traced back to the individual who bought them.
A spokesperson for the SNP Holyrood group said: “These exchanges, whilst obviously lighthearted, are being investigated as is appropriate and we would expect the offices of MSPs of all parties to cooperate with the parliamentary corporate body.”
A Scottish parliament spokesperson added: “We take the use of publicly funded resources very seriously. Officials are investigating the matter to establish whether there has been any misuse of parliamentary resources.”
Salma Ouaguira21 June 2024 12:03 1718967269Labour will ‘whack up everyone’s taxes’, Sunak Claims
Rishi Sunak has claimed a future Labour government is going to “whack up everyone’s taxes”.
Answering questions at the launch of the Welsh Conservative manifesto, Mr Sunak defended his record as Prime Minister over the last 18 months.
He said: “Proud of what we’ve achieved, crucially turning around the economy, getting inflation back to normal and starting to cut everyone’s taxes, and that’s the clear choice at his election: continue on the plan we’re on, continue to cut taxes for people at every stage of their life, or the Labour Party, who just want to hike up everyone’s taxes.”
Mr Sunak said Labour was saying “not right now” when challenged on possible tax rises, adding: “But it is coming, mark my words – a future Labour government is going to whack up everyone’s taxes.
“I don’t want that to happen, we’ve made great progress, I want to continue cutting taxes for everyone.”
Jabed Ahmed21 June 2024 11:54 1718967151Sunak urges voters not to ‘sleepwalk’ into the general election
Rishi Sunak has warned voters not to “sleepwalk” into the general election.
He said: “I warn you: Don’t fall into Labour’s trap, don’t sleepwalk to July 4. I know you want to send us a message but this is not a by-election. It will determine who governs our country for the next five years and potentially much longer.
“For if Labour get in they will change the rules so it is much harder to ever get them out.”
He added: “Once they have got power they will change every rule to make sure that they keep it. We can’t let that happen and it is only we Conservatives who can stop it.”
Do not let Labour ‘waltz into office’, warns Sunak
Rishi Sunak has urged voters not to let Labour “waltz into office without scrutinising them”.
Speaking at the launch of the Welsh Conservative manifesto, the Prime Minister hit out at Sir Keir Starmer’s “constant U-turns”.
“Do not let Labour waltz into office without scrutinising them,” he said.
“Do you really know what you’re going to get with Labour?”
He said a “government must make long-term decisions” but asked how Labour could when they have “changed their mind” on major issues.
On Sir Keir, Mr Sunak said: “Because he has such a past, he doesn’t deserve to decide your future.”
Jabed Ahmed21 June 2024 11:52 1718967075Lib Dems were ‘punished' in 2015 over failure to deliver on tuition fees
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey has said he “enjoyed the opportunity to be able to put the Liberal Democrat case” at yesterday’s BBC Question Time grilling.
Speaking to media at Harrogate College, in North Yorkshire, Sir Ed was pressed on the question he received about failing to deliver on tuition fees when the party was in coalition with the Tories.
He said: “Again, I was able, I hope, to deal with that.
“I made it very clear that, yes, we were punished in 2015 but we’ve listened to people. And I’ve taken two big lessons from that, as I’ve reflected on that.
“The first is to never make promises you can’t keep, and that’s why we’ve costed our manifesto, I think, in more detail than any other party.
“We are very cautious in our estimates so we can deliver on the health and care package, we can deliver on cost-of-living challenges.
“But also, I knew that the party had to rebuild and we’ve been trying to do that over the last few years – listening to people, to what their biggest concerns are.”
Jabed Ahmed21 June 2024 11:51 1718966826Sunak favourability hits record low and is now less popular than both Johnson and Corbyn – YouGov Poll
A record 75 per cent of Britons have have an unfavourable opinion of Rishi Sunak, according to a new YouGov poll.
Just 19 per of the British public have a favourable view of the prime minister, who is now less popular than both Boris Johnson (72%) and Jeremy Corbyn (71%).
Mr Sunak now a net favourability score of -56, the worst YouGov has recorded for him.
The unfavourability figure is three points lower than YouGov’s last score eight days ago. Of those who voted Conservative in 2019, 56% have an unfavourable view of Sunak.
The poll further found 39 per cent have a favourable view of Kier Starmer while 52 per cent have an unfavourable view.
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