The Met Police has denied being the source of leaks identifying those being investigated over alleged bets on the general election date.
The Daily Telegraph reported that Scotland Yard had briefed journalists on those being probed by the Gambling Commission, citing a Cabinet Office source.
This was flatly denied by the force, which said in a statement to the BBC: “The allegations that the Met has leaked information are simply untrue.”
The paper also reported that more police officers could be investigated over alleged election betting by using ‘insider’ information before the July 4 poll date was known.
It is known that a police officer in Rishi Sunak’s close protection officers has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over the alleged bets.
A Met spokesperson said: “We continue to liaise with the Gambling Commission and are assessing information they have provided.”
Several figures in the Conservative Party have been named in the media as being under investigation for alleged bets.
They are the Prime Minister's former parliamentary aide Craig Williams, who has admitted to a "huge error of judgment" in placing "a flutter" on the election date, along with the party's chief data officer Nick Mason, director of campaigning Tony Lee, and Laura Saunders, a candidate in Bristol North West and Mr Lee's wife.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has come under pressure including from his own MPs and a minister to suspend the candidates alleged to have been involved.
Northern Ireland minister Steve Baker said placing bets on the election date was "disreputable" and he would have suspended anyone who had done so.
Speaking to ITV's Peston on Monday evening, Mr Baker said: "I would call them up and ask them, 'Did you do it?' And if they did it, then they are suspended.
"But the Prime Minister would have to answer why he hasn't done it, I haven't got inside information on why the Prime Minister hasn't done it."
But Mr Sunak insisted on Monday that it was "proper" to wait for the outcome of investigations by the Gambling Commission, the police and the Conservative Party itself as he struggled to move on from the scandal engulfing his campaign.
The Prime Minister, who has described himself as “incredibly angry” to learn of the allegations, said earlier on Monday he was "not aware" of any other Tories facing investigation.
