The Tories’ former director of campaigning Anthony Lee and his wife Laura Saunders have both pleaded guilty to cheating at gambling over the date of the 2024 General Election.
Lee admitted passing confidential information over the election timing to Saunders – then head of international at CCHQ and the Tory candidate for Bristol North West – so they could have a punt. Lee admitted two charges, Saunders admitted one…
They follow Craig Williams, Rishi Sunak’s former PPS, and Amy Hind, wife of the party’s deputy digital director, who have already admitted to the same offence. Lee, Saunders and Hind are up for sentencing on 23rd October…
Former Treasury minister and adviser to Burnham in the Makerfield campaign Lord Jim O’Neill, who has turned down a role in his government, said Burnham’s first statement Commons was:
“The last thing investors wanted to hear… gilt yields have risen by a 0.25% in one day, which is a lot. We’ve not had that since Liz Truss days… If your country is under the focus of ‘can they come up with a sensible fiscal strategy’ on a day when the markets think ‘well no, you’re not showing any sign of it’ you’re going to have a tough day…if it stays like this your mortgage rate is going up.”