Senior Tory ‘bet £8,000 he would lose his seat at election’

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**Sir Philip Davies says he has done nothing illegal and it was ‘nobody’s business’ how much he had gambled**

A senior Conservative has been accused of placing an £8,000 bet that he would lose his seat at the general election, it has been reported.

The Sun reported that Sir Philip Davies, who is defending a 6,242-vote majority in Shipley, West Yorkshire, placed the four-figure wager.

There is no suggestion that the leading Tory, who is married to Cabinet minister Esther McVey, broke the law.

Sir Philip told the newspaper that the sum involved was “nobody’s business”, that he “fully expected to lose” the seat and that he had done nothing illegal.

He is the second election candidate who has been accused of betting against himself.

Labour removed its support from Kevin Craig, who is standing in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, on Tuesday after he admitted betting that he would lose.

Sir Philip told The Sun: “What’s it got to do with you whether I did or didn’t?”

He added: “I hope to win. I’m busting a gut to win. I expect to lose. In the 2005 election, I busted a gut to win. I expected to lose.

“I had a bet on myself to lose in the 2005 election, and my bet went down the pan.”

‘Nobody’s business apart from mine’

He went on to say: “My comment will be whether I have or haven’t, it’s nobody’s business apart from mine.

“And if anyone’s alleging I’ve done anything illegal, they’re very welcome to allege it, but I’m afraid I haven’t.”

On Tuesday night, Alister Jack, the Scottish Secretary, said he had placed three bets on the date of the general election, one of which was successful.

He is not being investigated by the Gambling Commission.

Five Conservatives are being investigated by the commission over alleged election bets.

Craig Williams, Rishi Sunak’s parliamentary private secretary who is standing for the Conservatives in Montgomeryshire, has admitted betting on the date of the election.

Laura Saunders, the party’s candidate in Bristol North West, has been accused of doing the same and is being investigated by the commission.

Ms Saunders is married to Tony Lee, the Tory party’s director of campaigning, who is also being investigated, as is Nick Mason, its head of data.

Russell George, a Tory in the Welsh Parliament, was suspended from the Welsh Conservatives on Tuesday.

This should be treated the same as football inside betting.

Fined, barred for life, all honours redacted

Surely election candidates betting on the election result is about as inappropriate as a jockey betting on a horse racing result?

What exactly is his logic (or “logic”) that makes his action reasonable in his eyes?

Paddy Power should drop the ex footballers and use ex politicians in their ads instead.

I’ve always hated this man. His voting record shows him to be utterly contemptible and I’m entirely unsurprised that he’s done this or that he thinks it’s okay.

It may not be against the rules…are we seriously a country in which if there isn’t a specific rule, we have no idea what is right or wrong?

It’s like fundamentally many people have no idea of what’s right or wrong…or maybe they just don’t care.

Can’t believe this prick has a knighthood. 4th July can’t come soon enough.

Ok, I feel like the script writers are overusing this joke. The plot was funny the first couple of times, but they’re milking it to the point this season feels a bit unrealistic.

Now starmer ditching that guy this morning looks inspired as what can sunak do now?

The funny thing is this is stupid but not illegal.

Let’s remember the other five (and the police) are doing bets that are illegal

Departing in a blaze of sleaze and corruption.

Their final note left behind will read, “sorry, there is no country left”.

Pretty based way of hedging. If he wins he has a nicely paid job as an MP for 4 years. If he loses he has his winnings. Cynical AF, but smart.