Tory candidate Craig Williams breaks silence after party withdraws support over betting row

It comes after days of speculation following Williams' own confirmation that he had put a "flutter" on the date of the general election, before later admitting he had made a 'huge error of judgement'.

He is now being investigated by the Gambling Commission over the matter – along with three other Conservatives – as it tries to decide if they had inside information, and if they have broken the rules.

Despite the latest developments Mr Williams will still appear on the ballot papers as a Conservative candidate, even though his party has decided to withdraw support for his campaign.

Now he has issued his first comment since his party's decision to abandon his campaign.

In it he apologised to the public, said he will continue to stand, and intends to 'clear his name'.

In a video filmed on Welshpool's High Street he said: "I remain on the ballot paper on the fourth of July and I hope to secure your support after years of delivery.

"I committed an error of judgement, not an offence, and I want to reiterate my apology directly to you. I am fully co-operating with the routine enquiries from the Gambling Commission and I intend to clear my name. In all these things due process is important and that is what sets the UK apart from other countries and the commission must be allowed to do its work.

"It has been a privilege for me to be the member of parliament for the constituency where I was born, raised, and now live with my young family.

"I have been working hard helping thousands of constituents with our team, from everything from benefits to housing, to potholes to energy bills as well as securing unprecedented levels of investment in our local businesses, communities and high streets.

"And finally sticking up for farmers because without farmers there is no food and without food there is no future.

"For now however the most important thing I want to say to you today is I am committed to my campaign to be elected as your Member of Parliament and staunch champion,

"Finally a huge thank you for everyone who has reached out, come up to the office, and still continues to lend me your support this week and today.

"It is now over to you, the electorate of Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr, it is your decision you're the ones that matter on the fourth of July."

Confirming the party's decision earlier today a Conservative Party spokesman said: "As a result of ongoing internal inquiries, we have concluded that we can no longer support Craig Williams or Laura Saunders as parliamentary candidates at the forthcoming General Election.

"We have checked with the Gambling Commission that this decision does not compromise the investigation that they are conducting, which is rightly independent and ongoing."

Read more: Bet row candidate Craig Williams receives support of Tory as party abandon campaign

Read more: Keir Starmer reacts as Tories withdraw support for Craig Williams & Laura Saunders

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer responded by saying: "Why didn't that happen a week ago?"

Shadow paymaster general Jonathan Ashworth added: "It is yet another example of Rishi Sunak's staggeringly weak leadership, that it has taken him nearly two weeks to see what was obvious to everyone else.

"The Conservatives who sought to line their own pockets by betting on the election date are not fit to be candidates for Parliament.

"Rishi Sunak now needs to come clean with voters across the country and tell them exactly how many of his Conservatives are implicated and who they are."

Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: "This should have happened immediately when these scandalous revelations emerged, but instead Rishi Sunak has dithered and delayed."

As well as the candidates, two senior Tory officials have taken a leave of absence at a crucial point in the election campaign, after being drawn into the Gambling Commission investigation.

Ms Saunders' husband Tony Lee, the party's director of campaigning, and chief data officer Nick Mason, have stepped back from their duties.

And a police officer who served in the Prime Minister's protection team has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over alleged bets on the election date.

Rishi Sunak under pressure to act over betting scandal linked to Craig Williams

The Prime Minister has been under pressure to act amid Tory concerns the issue was further damaging their electoral chances.

Following the decision to pull support from the candidates, Tory peer and former Brexit secretary Lord Frost said: "We get there in the end.

"But why did it take so long to come to a decision that seemed so necessary right from the start?"

Steve Baker became the first serving minister to call for those who placed bets on the election date to be suspended by the party, on Monday night.

The Northern Ireland minister told ITV's Peston that Mr Sunak should take action: "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."

Meanwhile the Metropolitan Police said it was "simply untrue" to say that the force had leaked the names of people suspected of using inside information to bet on the July 4 election date.

A source close to the Cabinet Office told the Daily Telegraph the Gambling Commission is telling the Met "and then almost instantly these names are finding their way to journalists".

"The suspicion very much is, it's the Met," the source said.

The newspaper reported that a further five police officers are currently under investigation by the gambling regulator.

A Met spokesman said: "The allegations that the Met has leaked information are simply untrue. We continue to liaise with the Gambling Commission and are assessing information they have provided."