Gambling Commission Interviews Oliver Dowden in Probe

The Gambling Commission's investigation into election-related betting has expanded to include senior figures within the Conservative Party, most notably Sir Oliver Dowden, the former Deputy Prime Minister, who has been interviewed but is not under suspicion. Launched in June 2024, the inquiry focuses on whether bets were placed based on insider knowledge of the July general election date, with several Conservative officials, including Craig Williams, having previously admitted to betting shortly before the announcement. The Commission has seized hundreds of documents from Conservative Campaign Headquarters and is employing former police officers to assist in the investigation, which is expected to continue for several more months. While the Metropolitan Police concluded their separate investigation with no action taken, the Gambling Commission's inquiry remains ongoing. The timing of these revelations coincides with the Conservative Party Conference, where the party is facing scrutiny over its campaign's integrity amid a significant election defeat. Notably, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has not yet been interviewed by the Gambling Commission.