The betting scandal spells trouble for Sunak

Is the Tory campaign cursed? After Rishi Sunak battled through the pouring rain when he called the election, suffered the return of Nigel Farage and then walked into a major D-Day gaffe, the party is under pressure once again. This time, the Tories are under fire over bets placed on the date of the election by Conservative aides and candidates. Nick Mason, the party’s chief data officer, is the fourth Tory (so far) to be investigated by the gambling commission (he denies any wrongdoing). It means Tory candidates on the media round are once again being asked about bets on the election – and why Sunak has not sacked all those allegedly involved. This morning Chris Heaton Harris, the Northern Ireland secretary, accused Labour of applying undue pressure on the Gambling Commission to investigate, arguing it is a case of innocent until proven guilty.

While the line from the Prime Minister’s team is that the commission must be given the space to investigate, Tory candidates worry the latest scandal to dog the campaign is cutting through on the doorstep.