THE leader of the Scottish LibDems has said he put bets on the election – but insisted he had broken no rules.
Alex Cole-Hamilton has become the latest figure connected to the Westminster betting scandal which has now spread to Labour, the Tories and the LibDems.
He told ITV Border he had placed election bets on LibDem candidates. But he said they were not to do with the timing of the election – as had been the case with Tory candidates and officials – and that he had not broken any rules.
ITV Border reported the Scottish LibDem chief saw no moral problem with placing the bets but that he was open to the rules being changed around political gambling.
It is not yet know who Cole-Hamilton (above) bet on or for how much. The Scottish LibDems were approached for comment.
It comes as a betting scandal engulfs Westminster, with the Tories, Labour and now the LibDems implicated.
The Tories were forced to suspend two candidates, Craig Williams (above) and Laura Saunders, for allegedly betting on the date of the General Election.
Williams has admitted to an “error of judgment” but denied committing an offence while Saunders has threatened to sue outlets reporting on the investigation.
They have also seen two party officials take leaves of absence as the campaign reaches its final stages over similar allegations.
And Scottish Secretary Alister Jack (below), who is stepping down at the election, admitted to having put three bets – one successful – on the election date but insisted he had not breached gambling rules.
Newsnight on Tuesday reported that up to 15 Conservative Party candidates and officials were being scrutinised for alleged betting on the timing of the election.
Meanwhile, Labour suspended Kevin Craig as a candidate for betting against himself.
And the Metropolitan Police, which provides close protection officers to politicians, said that five among its ranks were under investigation for betting on the election in addition to the officer who has been arrested for an alleged gambling offence.
