UK premier's aide placed bet on election date before it was announced: Report

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's parliamentary private secretary bet £100 ($128) on a July general election three days before it was announced, according to media reports Wednesday.

Craig Williams, who is seeking re-election in Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr constituency, confirmed that he "put a flutter" on the election, the British daily The Guardian reported.

According to the report, Williams, who became an MP in 2019, confirmed that he is under investigation by the gambling watchdog the Gambling Commission.

"I’ve been contacted by a journalist about Gambling Commission inquiries into one of my accounts and thought it best to be totally transparent," he said.

The Guardian said Williams placed a bet with the bookmaker Ladbrokes on May 19 in his local constituency of Montgomeryshire three days before Sunak announced that general election will take place on July 4.

According to the report, it is understood that the Conservative Party will not take any action against Williams for now but will wait until the gambling watchdog inquiry concludes.