Ex-candidate's election bet 'unacceptable' - Sarwar
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has said he is confident none of his party's general election candidates have behaved inappropriately after one south of the border was suspended for betting against himself.
Labour dropped Kevin Craig as its candidate for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich after the Gambling Commission launched an investigation into him.
Mr Sarwar said his behaviour was "completely unacceptable".
Several Conservative candidates and senior officials have allegedly bet on the date of the 4 July election.
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has admitted to placing three bets on the date in the weeks before Rishi Sunak’s surprise announcement - but said he did not break any rules.
Mr Sarwar said Mr Craig had been suspended as soon as it was confirmed the Gambling Commission had launched an investigation and a £100,000 donation made by the former candidate in May 2023 had been returned.
He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland: “Insider trading, or the accusation of insider trading is completely unacceptable.”
Mr Sarwar said he did not "have any knowledge of any bets being placed" by Labour candidates in Scotland.
He added: “Absolutely I’m confident that our candidates are all behaving appropriately and acting appropriately and spending their time doing what they should be doing.”
'Huge mistake'
In a statement on social media, Mr Craig said he "did not place this bet with any prior knowledge of the outcome" and had planned on "giving any winnings to local charities".
"This was a huge mistake, for which I apologise unreservedly," he said.
The Gambling Commission has not said who it is looking into but so far the names of five Conservatives have emerged, including three candidates.
BBC Newsnight has reported that up to 15 Conservative Party candidates and officials are being looked at.
Mr Jack, who is standing down at the election, told the BBC that in April he placed a successful bet that the election date would fall between July and September - after losing two similar bets in March.
He said he had no knowledge of when the election would be called and was not under investigation by the commission.
