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Politics, as with comedy, is so often about timing.

And you’d have thought the Conservative official in charge of social media may have sensed danger before putting out an advert on party channels featuring a roulette wheel and the accompanying caption: “If you bet on Labour, you can never win.”

That’s because within hours of the button being pushed on that post, it was confirmed that a second Tory candidate was being investigated for allegedly placing a bet on the timing of the general election shortly before it was publicly announced.

Politics latest: Tory candidate facing gambling probe married to campaign director

Now, we also know that Laura Saunders – who is standing in Bristol North West – is married to the party’s director of campaigning, someone who you’d assume would have access to private information potentially about the election.

This matters legally because it is an offence to use inside information not available to others to gain an unfair advantage when placing a bet.

While not naming any individuals, the Gambling Commission says it is “investigating the possibility of offences concerning the date of the election”.

But the situation also matters politically for two reasons.

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Firstly – to risk stating the obvious – we are two weeks away from polling day and the incumbent government is trailing badly in the polls.

At the very least, Rishi Sunak wants to be talking about the risks (as he sees it) of a Labour administration and certainly not dodgy-looking activity in his own ranks.

Minutes and column inches count for more in the final stretch of an election campaign, and this is another story that will suck up bandwidth and crowd out the messages the Tories want to get out there.

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Secondly, this story has the potential to do damage because it zeroes in on pre-existing political vulnerabilities present in the Tory party.

To be more specific, this risks being woven into toxic political behemoth of a topic often known as “Tory sleaze”.

So the thought process may go: “They were partying when the country was locked down, their mates were making money out of PPE in the pandemic, and now they even tried to cash in on the date of the general election.”

Yes, the party will correctly argue that in all these cases it was a small number of people allegedly breaking the rules.

But in the glare of the campaign, it might not matter, as – a bit like the D-Day story did with the accusation of an out of touch prime minister – this story risks punching an electoral bruise.

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There’s one caveat to that though.

We in Westminster can sometimes overstate the degree to which stories like this do damage to one party, when the reality is they often serve to hurt all politicians in the minds of voters, regardless of their affiliation.

That may be offset by the inevitable party political emphasis that an election brings.

But given this campaign has been characterised by a sense of apathy and lack of faith in the broader political class, don’t be surprised if this latest scandal dents confidence in all would-be leaders.

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Trump reignites row with ‘nasty’ Sadiq Khan as Starmer responds

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Trump reignites row with 'nasty' Sadiq Khan as Starmer responds

Donald Trump has reignited his row with London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan after calling him a “nasty person” who has done “a terrible job”.

During an hour-long news conference with Sir Keir Starmer in Scotland, the US president hit out at the Labour mayor, who has responded with his own snipey remarks.

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Asked if he would visit London during his state visit in September, Mr Trump said: “I will, I’m not a fan of your mayor, I think he’s done a terrible job.

“A nasty person, I think.”

The prime minister then interrupted and said: “He’s a friend of mine.”

But the president added: “I think he’s done a terrible job but I will certainly visit London, I hope so.”

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Sir Sadiq’s spokesperson then released a statement saying: “Sadiq is delighted that President Trump wants to come to the greatest city in the world.

“He’d see how our diversity makes us stronger not weaker; richer, not poorer.

“Perhaps these are the reasons why a record number of Americans have applied for British citizenship under his presidency.”

The Right Honourable Sir Sadiq Khan after receiving the Honour of Knighthood during an Investiture ceremony.
Pic: PA
Image:
Sir Sadiq Khan was knighted in June. Pic: PA

They noted that Sir Sadiq has won three mayoral elections, including when Mr Trump lost the US election in 2020.

This is not the first time Mr Trump and Sir Sadiq have locked horns.

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Prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer (right) and Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan lays a wreath at the 7/7 Memorial, in Hyde Park, London, to mark
Image:
The PM told Mr Trump that Sir Sadiq is a friend of his – seen here laying wreaths for the anniversary of the 7/7 bombings. Pic: PA

During his first presidential term, Mr Trump called the London mayor a “stone cold loser who should focus on crime in London”.

Sir Sadiq then described Mr Trump as a “poster boy for racists”.

And in November 2024, after Mr Trump won his second term, Sir Sadiq said many Londoners would be “fearful” about what it would “mean for democracy”.

However, as Sir Keir tried to show diplomacy with Mr Trump after becoming PM, Sir Sadiq said he “wanted to work closely with the American president” ahead of his inauguration in January.

The London mayor said as somebody “who believes in democracy, and voting and elections, we should recognise the fact that Donald Trump is the elected president of the United States”.

But he added: “Let’s keep our fingers crossed that this president is different from the last time he was president.”

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Trump’s Truth Social Bitcoin ETF among multiple crypto funds delayed by SEC

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Trump’s Truth Social Bitcoin ETF among multiple crypto funds delayed by SEC

Trump’s Truth Social Bitcoin ETF among multiple crypto funds delayed by SEC

The SEC delayed decisions on the Truth Social Bitcoin ETF and Grayscale’s Solana Trust, extending review periods as the US Congress moves with crypto regulation.

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Anti-CBDC bill could curb Fed’s power over digital dollar, sponsor says

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Anti-CBDC bill could curb Fed’s power over digital dollar, sponsor says

Anti-CBDC bill could curb Fed’s power over digital dollar, sponsor says

The US House of Representatives will be in recess for the month of August, but the Senate still has a week of business to address two crypto bills before breaking.

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