An activist group, on Saturday (Jun 29) interrupted a rally speech by Nigel Farage, the leader of Britain’s right-wing Reform UK party, by lowering a banner featuring a “beaming picture” of Russian President Vladimir Putin.&nbsp;

The incident comes days ahead of the United Kingdom general elections, which will be held on July 4, as candidates are making their final pitch to the voters.&nbsp;

<h2>‘I (heart emoji) Nigel’ banner</h2>

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/west-provoked-russia-ukraine-war-says-uks-nigel-farage-734001">Reform UK party leader</a> was in the middle of his speech at The Columbine Centre in Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex, a county in southeast England when a remote-controlled banner featuring an image of the Russian president was lowered.&nbsp;

Farage did not notice the banner with a picture of a beaming Putin giving a thumbs-up with the words “I (heart emoji) Nigel” written below as it was being lowered.&nbsp;

It wasn’t until some people in the audience began laughing that he saw the banner and said “Who put that up there?” adding, “Someone at the Columbine Centre needs to get the sack.”

The stunt was carried out by an activist group called Led by Donkeys that posted the video of it on their X account with the caption, “We just dropped in on Farage’s election rally with a beaming picture of Putin. Nigel was not pleased.”

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🚨We just dropped in on Farage’s election rally with a beaming picture of Putin. Nigel was not pleased. <a href="https://t.co/KeDiOMeyu6">pic.twitter.com/KeDiOMeyu6</a>
— Led By Donkeys (@ByDonkeys) <a href="https://twitter.com/ByDonkeys/status/1807141707571454290?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2024</a></blockquote>
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“Nigel Farage says Putin is the world leader he ‘admires the most’ and blames the West for Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine,” the group said in the clip referring to a recent statement by the Reform UK leader which drew strong criticism across the British political spectrum.

The audience was heard chanting “Rip it down” before two people tried to pull it down and/or tear it, which did not work.&nbsp;

<h2>Farage’s controversial remarks about Ukraine war</h2>

The Reform UK leader is running as a member of parliament (MP) in the seaside town of Clacton-on-Sea in his eighth attempt to win a seat in the House of Commons.&nbsp;

Farage sparked outrage earlier this month when he said that while the conflict in Ukraine is Putin’s fault, the West “provoked this war”.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/watch-woman-throws-milkshake-at-reform-uk-leader-nigel-farage-on-first-day-of-campaigning-728956">Woman throws milkshake at Reform UK leader Nigel Farage on first day of campaigning</a>

Speaking at the BBC Panorama show, the Reform UK leader said he had been warning about conflict with Russia since 2014.&nbsp;

He added that it was the eastward expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union that gave Putin “an excuse” to go to war with Ukraine.&nbsp;

At the time, Home Secretary James Cleverly from the ruling Conservative Party accused Farage of echoing the Russian president’s “vile justification” for the war.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the Labour Party, which is expected to win by a landslide margin&nbsp;in the upcoming election branded Farage as “unfit” for any political office.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

An activist group, on Saturday (Jun 29) interrupted a rally speech by Nigel Farage, the leader of Britain’s right-wing Reform UK party, by lowering a banner featuring a “beaming picture” of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

An activist group, on Saturday (Jun 29) interrupted a rally speech by Nigel Farage, the leader of Britain’s right-wing Reform UK party, by lowering a banner featuring a “beaming picture” of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The incident comes days ahead of the United Kingdom general elections, which will be held on July 4, as candidates are making their final pitch to the voters. ‘I (heart emoji) Nigel’ banner The Reform UK party leader was in the middle of his speech at The Columbine Centre in Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex, a county in southeast England when a remote-controlled banner featuring an image of the Russian president was lowered. Farage did not notice the banner with a picture of a beaming Putin giving a thumbs-up with the words “I (heart emoji) Nigel” written below as it was being lowered. It wasn’t until some people in the audience began laughing that he saw the banner and said “Who put that up there?” adding, “Someone at the Columbine Centre needs to get the sack.” The stunt was carried out by an activist group called Led by Donkeys that posted the video of it on their X account with the caption, “We just dropped in on Farage’s election rally with a beaming picture of Putin. Nigel was not pleased.” 🚨We just dropped in on Farage’s election rally with a beaming picture of Putin. Nigel was not pleased. pic.twitter.com/KeDiOMeyu6 — Led By Donkeys (@ByDonkeys) June 29, 2024 × “Nigel Farage says Putin is the world leader he ‘admires the most’ and blames the West for Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine,” the group said in the clip referring to a recent statement by the Reform UK leader which drew strong criticism across the British political spectrum. The audience was heard chanting “Rip it down” before two people tried to pull it down and/or tear it, which did not work. Farage’s controversial remarks about Ukraine war The Reform UK leader is running as a member of parliament (MP) in the seaside town of Clacton-on-Sea in his eighth attempt to win a seat in the House of Commons. Farage sparked outrage earlier this month when he said that while the conflict in Ukraine is Putin’s fault, the West “provoked this war”. Also Read | Woman throws milkshake at Reform UK leader Nigel Farage on first day of campaigning Speaking at the BBC Panorama show, the Reform UK leader said he had been warning about conflict with Russia since 2014. He added that it was the eastward expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union that gave Putin “an excuse” to go to war with Ukraine. At the time, Home Secretary James Cleverly from the ruling Conservative Party accused Farage of echoing the Russian president’s “vile justification” for the war. Meanwhile, the Labour Party, which is expected to win by a landslide margin in the upcoming election branded Farage as “unfit” for any political office. (With inputs from agencies)

WATCH: Activists interrupt Reform UK leader Nigel Farage’s speech by lowering Putin banner

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UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, reacting to a racial slur made about him by a Reform UK party supporter, on Friday (June 28) said he was deeply hurt and infuriated by the clipping.

Expressing his disapproval of the act, he said that he was anguished upon having to witness his two daughters see and hear what the people campaigning for Nigel Farage said.

Sunak, who was born in the southern English port city of Southampton in 1980 to Hindu parents of Punjabi Indian descent, was called a "f*cking Paki" by Reform canvasser Andrew Parker in a secretly filmed video by Channel 4 News.

"My two daughters have to see and hear Reform people who campaign for Nigel Farage calling me an effing Paki. It hurts and it makes me angry, and I think he has some questions to answer," Sunak responded to comments broadcast by Channel 4 News.

UK's first ethnic-minority PM said that the Reform activist's racial slur was "too important not to call out".

"I don't repeat those words lightly, I do so deliberately because this is too important not to call out clearly for what it is," he added.

In Channel 4's video, Parker can be heard saying, "I've always been a Tory (Conservative) voter but what annoys me is that f*cking Paki we've got in. What good is he? You tell me, you know. He's just wet. F*cking useless."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-leaders-support-ursula-von-der-leyen-for-second-term-as-president-735867">EU leaders support Ursula von der Leyen for second term as president</a>

<h2>No one at the Reform Party was aware of my personal views, says Parker&nbsp;</h2>

Parker released a statement apologising to Nigel Farage and the Reform Party stating that his personal views on the immigration problem were not intended to bring disrepute to the party.

"I would therefore like to apologise profusely to Nigel Farage and the Reform Party if my personal views have reflected badly on them and brought them into disrepute as this was not my intention," he said.

"I offered to help the Reform Party on their canvassing as I believe that they are the only party that offers the UK voter a practical solution to the illegal immigration problem that we have in the UK."

Amid the controversy over Parker's statement, Farage took to his X handle late on Thursday (June 27) and said that he was disturbed by the kind of words that the Reform activist used.

"We now learn that he is an actor by profession. This whole episode does not add up," Farage said on Friday (June 28).

(With inputs from agencies)

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, reacting to a racial slur made about him by a Reform UK party supporter, on Friday (June 28) said he was deeply hurt and infuriated by the clipping.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, reacting to a racial slur made about him by a Reform UK party supporter, on Friday (June 28) said he was deeply hurt and infuriated by the clipping. Expressing his disapproval of the act, he said that he was anguished upon having to witness his two daughters see and hear what the people campaigning for Nigel Farage said. Sunak, who was born in the southern English port city of Southampton in 1980 to Hindu parents of Punjabi Indian descent, was called a "f*cking Paki" by Reform canvasser Andrew Parker in a secretly filmed video by Channel 4 News. "My two daughters have to see and hear Reform people who campaign for Nigel Farage calling me an effing Paki. It hurts and it makes me angry, and I think he has some questions to answer," Sunak responded to comments broadcast by Channel 4 News. UK's first ethnic-minority PM said that the Reform activist's racial slur was "too important not to call out". "I don't repeat those words lightly, I do so deliberately because this is too important not to call out clearly for what it is," he added. In Channel 4's video, Parker can be heard saying, "I've always been a Tory (Conservative) voter but what annoys me is that f*cking Paki we've got in. What good is he? You tell me, you know. He's just wet. F*cking useless." Also read: EU leaders support Ursula von der Leyen for second term as president No one at the Reform Party was aware of my personal views, says Parker Parker released a statement apologising to Nigel Farage and the Reform Party stating that his personal views on the immigration problem were not intended to bring disrepute to the party. "I would therefore like to apologise profusely to Nigel Farage and the Reform Party if my personal views have reflected badly on them and brought them into disrepute as this was not my intention," he said. "I offered to help the Reform Party on their canvassing as I believe that they are the only party that offers the UK voter a practical solution to the illegal immigration problem that we have in the UK." Amid the controversy over Parker's statement, Farage took to his X handle late on Thursday (June 27) and said that he was disturbed by the kind of words that the Reform activist used. "We now learn that he is an actor by profession. This whole episode does not add up," Farage said on Friday (June 28). (With inputs from agencies)

UK PM Rishi Sunak hurt and angry over Reform activist's racial slur, says 'too important not to call out'

London's Metropolitan Police is investigating a small number of bets made on the timing of next week's national elections with at least seven of its police officers identified having placed such wagers.

UK elections: UK Police investigate bets on election timing

Britain's economy bounced back from recession faster than initially reported in the first quarter of this year, according to revised data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released on Friday.

The country's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.7 per cent from the previous quarter, surpassing the earlier estimate of 0.6 per cent growth. However, things are still a bit uncertain as the nation gears up for a crucial election next week.

In the second half of 2023, Britain's GDP experienced two consecutive quarters of decline. Despite the recent positive growth, the overall economic outlook remains weak, which presents challenges for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Conservative Party leading up to the election.

Opinion polls predict that the Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, will secure a comfortable victory.

The first-quarter GDP was only 0.3 per cent higher than the previous year, showing some improvement from the initial estimate of 0.2 per cent.

However, when it comes to real household disposable income per person, things weren't as positive. In the first quarter of 2024, it was 0.6 per cent lower compared to the final quarter of 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Adam Corlett, a principal economist at the Resolution Foundation, pointed out that income growth has significantly declined during this parliamentary term, making it the worst since the 1950s and the third worst since 1910.

He stressed that addressing this "great living standards slowdown" will be a critical challenge for the next government.

Since the last election, Britain's economy has faced a slew of obstacles, including the lasting impact of the pandemic on the labour force, rising inflation due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and post-Brexit trade issues.

In the first quarter of 2024, the economy grew by 1.8 per cent compared to the final quarter of 2019, making it the weakest performer among the G7 economies, except for Germany. However, France and Japan haven't fared much better.

Despite a solid start to 2024, the outlook remains challenging. The first quarter saw the fastest growth since the last quarter of 2021, and the Bank of England (BOE) estimates a 0.5 per cent GDP growth for the second quarter.

The ONS data offers some relief, showing a 2.4 per cent increase in real household disposable income per person over the past year, driven by rapid wage growth in a tight labour market. GDP per person rose quarterly for the first time in two years, although it's still 0.6 per cent lower than a year ago.

The BOE sees the strong growth in the first half of the year as a rebound from last year's weakness rather than a sustained period of expansion, estimating the underlying growth rate at around 0.25 per cent per quarter.

Government budget forecasters are more optimistic, predicting annual growth to rise from 0.8 per cent this year to nearly 2 per cent in the coming years.

Keir Starmer has criticised these forecasts as overly pessimistic, vowing to achieve the highest sustained growth among the G7 countries through reforms such as easing planning controls to speed up infrastructure development and constructing 1.5 million new homes.

However, Britain hasn't consistently grown faster than 2 per cent annually since before the 2008 financial crisis. Economists attribute this to a slowdown in productivity growth, which has been worsened by weak investment.

Furthermore, ONS data revealed a decline in foreign direct investment in Britain for the fifth time in six quarters during January-March, further highlighting the economic challenges ahead.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Britain's economy bounced back from recession faster than initially reported in the first quarter of this year, according to revised data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released on Friday.

Britain's economy bounced back from recession faster than initially reported in the first quarter of this year, according to revised data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released on Friday. The country's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.7 per cent from the previous quarter, surpassing the earlier estimate of 0.6 per cent growth. However, things are still a bit uncertain as the nation gears up for a crucial election next week. In the second half of 2023, Britain's GDP experienced two consecutive quarters of decline. Despite the recent positive growth, the overall economic outlook remains weak, which presents challenges for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Conservative Party leading up to the election. Opinion polls predict that the Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, will secure a comfortable victory. The first-quarter GDP was only 0.3 per cent higher than the previous year, showing some improvement from the initial estimate of 0.2 per cent. However, when it comes to real household disposable income per person, things weren't as positive. In the first quarter of 2024, it was 0.6 per cent lower compared to the final quarter of 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Adam Corlett, a principal economist at the Resolution Foundation, pointed out that income growth has significantly declined during this parliamentary term, making it the worst since the 1950s and the third worst since 1910. He stressed that addressing this "great living standards slowdown" will be a critical challenge for the next government. Since the last election, Britain's economy has faced a slew of obstacles, including the lasting impact of the pandemic on the labour force, rising inflation due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and post-Brexit trade issues. In the first quarter of 2024, the economy grew by 1.8 per cent compared to the final quarter of 2019, making it the weakest performer among the G7 economies, except for Germany. However, France and Japan haven't fared much better. Despite a solid start to 2024, the outlook remains challenging. The first quarter saw the fastest growth since the last quarter of 2021, and the Bank of England (BOE) estimates a 0.5 per cent GDP growth for the second quarter. The ONS data offers some relief, showing a 2.4 per cent increase in real household disposable income per person over the past year, driven by rapid wage growth in a tight labour market. GDP per person rose quarterly for the first time in two years, although it's still 0.6 per cent lower than a year ago. The BOE sees the strong growth in the first half of the year as a rebound from last year's weakness rather than a sustained period of expansion, estimating the underlying growth rate at around 0.25 per cent per quarter. Government budget forecasters are more optimistic, predicting annual growth to rise from 0.8 per cent this year to nearly 2 per cent in the coming years. Keir Starmer has criticised these forecasts as overly pessimistic, vowing to achieve the highest sustained growth among the G7 countries through reforms such as easing planning controls to speed up infrastructure development and constructing 1.5 million new homes. However, Britain hasn't consistently grown faster than 2 per cent annually since before the 2008 financial crisis. Economists attribute this to a slowdown in productivity growth, which has been worsened by weak investment. Furthermore, ONS data revealed a decline in foreign direct investment in Britain for the fifth time in six quarters during January-March, further highlighting the economic challenges ahead. (With inputs from Reuters)

UK economy exits recession faster than expected, faces election challenges

Conservative cabinet minister Alister Jack has admitted placing three bets on the date of the general election in the weeks before Prime Minister Rishi Sunak surprise announcement. In a conversation with BBC the minister had claimed that he placed a successful bet that the election would fall between July and September and even made € 2,100. Watch in for more details!

UK general election betting scandal now engulfs Rishi Sunak

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China intercepts US Submarine detectors | Kenya's Ruto withdraws finance bill

With UK general elections just a week away polls conducted between June 21st and 24th indicate labor is maintaining lead with conservatives falling back to equal their lowest ever vote share.

UK elections 2024: Poll survey indicate Labour in lead

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Now embroiled in the gambling Scandal the conservative party has received yet another blow a senior Tory leader Philip Davies is now said to be facing allegations that he made an £8,000 worth bet that he would lose his seat in the general elections.

Betting row: Senior Tory leader bet £8000 over losing his seat in elections

The UK human rights group Stop Uyghur Genocide which is campaigning against the Chinese fast-fashion giant Shein has been leading an effort to stop the company from being listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).

The group has petitioned the British equivalent, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), to stand in the way of Shein from going public in the city.

Shein, on the other hand, investigates that it does not allow forced labour and is committed to protecting human rights.

The company also has continually highlighted its supply chain and policies that compel manufacturers to source their cotton from only sensitised areas.

Currently, the FCA has not made any statement concerning the issue. Another lobby joined, Amnesty International UK, stated that they would oppose Shein’s listing on the LSE should the company consider an IPO in London accusing the company of having questionable labour practices and human rights narratives.

Earlier this June, Shein put confidential filing with the FCA, to begin the process for following a possible London listing later this year, as per the sources.

Shein has also indicated that it is gradually channelling resources to better governance and compliance across sectors in its supply chain.

However, it should be clarified that the FCA’s powers do not include investigation or prosecution of alleged infringements of legal provisions that fall outside of the FCA framework, like the Modern Slavery Act or the tax law.

(With inputs from Reuters)

The UK human rights group Stop Uyghur Genocide which is campaigning against the Chinese fast-fashion giant Shein has been leading an effort to stop the company from being listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).

The UK human rights group Stop Uyghur Genocide which is campaigning against the Chinese fast-fashion giant Shein has been leading an effort to stop the company from being listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). The group has petitioned the British equivalent, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), to stand in the way of Shein from going public in the city. Shein, on the other hand, investigates that it does not allow forced labour and is committed to protecting human rights. The company also has continually highlighted its supply chain and policies that compel manufacturers to source their cotton from only sensitised areas. Currently, the FCA has not made any statement concerning the issue. Another lobby joined, Amnesty International UK, stated that they would oppose Shein’s listing on the LSE should the company consider an IPO in London accusing the company of having questionable labour practices and human rights narratives. Earlier this June, Shein put confidential filing with the FCA, to begin the process for following a possible London listing later this year, as per the sources. Shein has also indicated that it is gradually channelling resources to better governance and compliance across sectors in its supply chain. However, it should be clarified that the FCA’s powers do not include investigation or prosecution of alleged infringements of legal provisions that fall outside of the FCA framework, like the Modern Slavery Act or the tax law. (With inputs from Reuters)

Shein's potential London listing faces hurdles over labour concerns

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Headlines of the hour: - China's Communist Party expels ex-defence minister - Kenya braces for fresh protests - Anti-government protest continues in Israel - Sunak most unpopular PM: polls - Hashemi pulls out of Iran elections - Boeing gets 737s back on track

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What do Justin Trudeau, Emmanuel Macron and Rishi Sunak have in common? They are all facing wrath, with things looking increasingly bleak for the leaders. Molly Gambhir tells you more.

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Tuesday's debate between Labour challenger Keir Starmer and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak focused on ways to strengthen the British economy. The PM accused the opposition party of planning to raise taxes if it were to win an election on July 4.

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Jewish support for Labour has spiked under the leadership of Labour party leader Kier Starmer. Polling suggests that 46% of British Jews intend to vote for the party.

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UK elections 2024: Rishi Sunak under fire over election bet scandal

UK Elections 2024: Rishi Sunak under fire over betting scandal

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange walked out of the courtroom in Saipan as a free man for the first time in 12 years. Watch to know more.

Julian Assange walks free, his case hearing is in remote US territory

Yet another member from United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative party is being investigated by the country’s Gambling Commission for allegedly placing a bet on the general election date.&nbsp;

<h2>Conservative politician under investigation</h2>

Russell George, a Conservative politician in the Welsh Parliament became the fifth Tory member facing inquiries by the Gambling Commission, reported the British media on Wednesday (Jun 26).&nbsp;

George, who represents the same constituency as Sunak’s closest parliamentary aide Craig Williams, was informed by the gambling watchdog that he is under investigation for allegedly placing bets on a July election.&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-pm-sunak-questioned-about-inflicting-liz-truss-on-britishers-faces-heat-over-betting-scandal-734961/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The Tory lawmaker who represents Montgomeryshire in the Welsh parliament said he is stepping back from his role as the Welsh Tories’ deputy chief whip until the investigation is over.&nbsp;

He told the Guardian that he will “cooperate fully” with the investigation but does not want to say anything else as it would “only jeopardise and undermine the investigation.”&nbsp;

Sunak’s Conservative party, which is reportedly headed for a historic loss in the July 4 election, has been engulfed in the betting scandal.&nbsp;

As per BBC, some 15 candidates and officials of the party are being looked at by the Gambling Commission over alleged betting on the timing of the general election.

<h2>Tory lawmaker admits placing bets</h2>

Scottish Secretary and Conservative cabinet minister, Alister Jack admitted placing three bets on the date on which the general elections will be conducted.&nbsp;

He told the BBC that in April he successfully placed bets that the elections will take place between July and September. This was after he had lost similar bets in March.&nbsp;

However, he later denied making such bets and told the British broadcaster that he was joking. The minister who will not be participating in the election after seven years in Parliament also denies breaking any rules.&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-sunak-withdraws-support-for-tory-candidates-accused-of-election-betting-734994">Sunak withdraws support for Tory candidates accused of election betting</a>

Jack told the BBC, on Tuesday (Jun 25) that he had placed a $25.3 (£20) bet at five to one. The cabinet minister said he had also “put two bets on in March of £5 ($6.3) each for an election to be held in May and June respectively”.&nbsp;

Sunak made the surprise announcement of holding the general elections in July, on May 22.&nbsp;

“I had no knowledge of the date of the election until the day it was called…I placed no bets in May and am not under investigation by the Gambling Commission,” he told the British broadcaster.&nbsp;

<h2>Labour suspends candidate&nbsp;</h2>

The betting scandal, which was previously limited to the Tories, also affected the opposition Labour Party as it suspended one of its general election candidates, reported the British media, on Tuesday (Jun 25).&nbsp;

Kevin Craig, Labour’s Central Suffolk and North Ipswich candidate, was “administratively” suspended after the party was informed by the Gambling Commission that they are launching an investigation into the contender.&nbsp;

Craig took to social media and released a statement acknowledging as well as apologising for what he called a “huge mistake”. He also said that he would “comply fully” with the investigation.&nbsp;

“A few weeks ago when I thought I would never win this seat I put a bet on the Tories to win here with the intention of giving any winnings to local charities,” the now-suspended Labour party member said.&nbsp;

He added, “While I did not place this bet with any prior knowledge of the outcome, this was a huge mistake, for which I apologise unreservedly,”&nbsp;

“I deeply regret what I have done and will take the consequences of this stupid error of judgement on the chin.”&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Yet another member from United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative party is being investigated by the country’s Gambling Commission for allegedly placing a bet on the general election date.

Yet another member from United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative party is being investigated by the country’s Gambling Commission for allegedly placing a bet on the general election date. Conservative politician under investigation Russell George, a Conservative politician in the Welsh Parliament became the fifth Tory member facing inquiries by the Gambling Commission, reported the British media on Wednesday (Jun 26). George, who represents the same constituency as Sunak’s closest parliamentary aide Craig Williams, was informed by the gambling watchdog that he is under investigation for allegedly placing bets on a July election. The Tory lawmaker who represents Montgomeryshire in the Welsh parliament said he is stepping back from his role as the Welsh Tories’ deputy chief whip until the investigation is over. He told the Guardian that he will “cooperate fully” with the investigation but does not want to say anything else as it would “only jeopardise and undermine the investigation.” Sunak’s Conservative party, which is reportedly headed for a historic loss in the July 4 election, has been engulfed in the betting scandal. As per BBC, some 15 candidates and officials of the party are being looked at by the Gambling Commission over alleged betting on the timing of the general election. Tory lawmaker admits placing bets Scottish Secretary and Conservative cabinet minister, Alister Jack admitted placing three bets on the date on which the general elections will be conducted. He told the BBC that in April he successfully placed bets that the elections will take place between July and September. This was after he had lost similar bets in March. However, he later denied making such bets and told the British broadcaster that he was joking. The minister who will not be participating in the election after seven years in Parliament also denies breaking any rules. Also Read | Sunak withdraws support for Tory candidates accused of election betting Jack told the BBC, on Tuesday (Jun 25) that he had placed a $25.3 (£20) bet at five to one. The cabinet minister said he had also “put two bets on in March of £5 ($6.3) each for an election to be held in May and June respectively”. Sunak made the surprise announcement of holding the general elections in July, on May 22. “I had no knowledge of the date of the election until the day it was called…I placed no bets in May and am not under investigation by the Gambling Commission,” he told the British broadcaster. Labour suspends candidate The betting scandal, which was previously limited to the Tories, also affected the opposition Labour Party as it suspended one of its general election candidates, reported the British media, on Tuesday (Jun 25). Kevin Craig, Labour’s Central Suffolk and North Ipswich candidate, was “administratively” suspended after the party was informed by the Gambling Commission that they are launching an investigation into the contender. Craig took to social media and released a statement acknowledging as well as apologising for what he called a “huge mistake”. He also said that he would “comply fully” with the investigation. “A few weeks ago when I thought I would never win this seat I put a bet on the Tories to win here with the intention of giving any winnings to local charities,” the now-suspended Labour party member said. He added, “While I did not place this bet with any prior knowledge of the outcome, this was a huge mistake, for which I apologise unreservedly,” “I deeply regret what I have done and will take the consequences of this stupid error of judgement on the chin.” (With inputs from agencies)

UK election: Another member of Conservative party under investigation as betting scandals grows

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Two studies lay bare poverty crisis in UK

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange will plead guilty to a felony charge in a deal with the US Justice Department that will free him and end his imprisonment in Britain, he is then expected to return home to Australia.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will plead guilty with the US Justice Department

UK PM Sunak questioned about 'inflicting Liz Truss on Britishers'; faces heat over betting scandal

UK: Sunak, Starmer face-off ahead of July 4 elections

With Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party facing a wipeout according to the polls, there are suggestions he could even become the first sitting prime minister in history to lose his seat. Watch in for more details!

UK: Experts predict historic defeat for Tories under Rishi Sunak

A Swiss court handed jail sentences to four members of Britain’s richest family on Friday for exploiting Indian staff at their Geneva mansion. Britain's rich's family has now issued a statement claiming that they were appalled by the verdict and will take their case to a higher court Watch in for more details!

Swiss court sentences four Hindujas for exploiting Indian staff

The UK's deep-rooted love for sports is set to have a significant positive impact on the economy, according to a recent analysis by a credit company called experian. The company highlighted the nation's enthusiasm for sports. The forecast predicts a substantial 233 million pound boost to the UK economy, driven largely by increased consumer spending linked to these major sporting events.

UK sports fandom fuels $294 mn spending surge

Watch top headlines of the hour: - Israel pounds tent camps around Rafah - Convicted, Hindujas appeal to higher court - Israel-Hezbollah: UN Chief sounds alarm - Arkansas, US: 3 killed in market shooting - Bangladesh PM Hasina in New Delhi - India paper leak row: Now CSIR-NET postponed

WION Headlines | Convicted, Hindujas appeal to higher court | Israel pounds tent camps around Rafah

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