Conservative candidates/betting scandal have been sacked.

👏👏👏

The right decision at last. We’re either of them expected to win? If they do, I suppose they sit as independents. Complex situation.

So I assume there will be no Tory candidates for those constituency?

Oh well I don’t suppose it matters, except democracy takes another bashing under this awful government.

I heard on the news that they can’t be removed from the ballot papers as Tory candidates as it’s too close to the election, and that postal votes already cast can’t be changed. I don’t know if this has ever happened before in a general election, but I think it’s something that should be looked into as it is unfair on voters who want to vote Tory.

Credit due for quick action.
Checked on Laura Sanders, unlikely to win but not a no-hoper.

Casdon

I heard on the news that they can’t be removed from the ballot papers as Tory candidates as it’s too close to the election, and that postal votes already cast can’t be changed. I don’t know if this has ever happened before in a general election, but I think it’s something that should be looked into as it is unfair on voters who want to vote Tory.

Intriguing point! Sunak must have reckoned the flak he might take was worth it.

Casdon

I heard on the news that they can’t be removed from the ballot papers as Tory candidates as it’s too close to the election, and that postal votes already cast can’t be changed. I don’t know if this has ever happened before in a general election, but I think it’s something that should be looked into as it is unfair on voters who want to vote Tory.

It happened with a Labour candidate at one of the recent Rochdale by-election.

He remained on the ballot as a Labour candidate but without Labour support ( Azhar Ali )

Yes, I think there have been a few in by elections GrannyGravy13, I was thinking of general elections in particular because it’s a decision that has repercussions for five years on the constituencies affected. If they could change the rules (and ballot papers) to allow a reserve candidate in these circumstances I think it would be fairer for constituents.

Yes Wyllow, I agree. It's good to see action taken over impropriety.

Douglas Ross is standing against, among others, a candidate no longer backed by Labour because of possible previous social media messages.

That passed me by Wheniwasyourage, so now means there are at least three candidates not representing their parties, possibly more, not sure if any the Reform candidates were also affected. It just doesn’t seem right to me that the electorate can’t vote for their own party.

Well we live in interesting times. I suppose voters would vote for them as independents in the hope that if they win they would be allowed to take the whip once the dust had settled.
What other solution could there be?

It’s easy to understand people on the periphery and ignorant of gambling law thinking it harmless fun to bet a tenner or two once they’d heard a rumour of a July election. I hope we don’t see several policemen losing their jobs.

Obviously it's too late for them to be removed from the ballot papers but, as Casdon says, this does seem unfair on those voters who want to vote Tory.

What were they thinking? Certainly not about the good of the party - nor the electorate they serve.

As if the party needs more scandal.

winterwhite

Well we live in interesting times. I suppose voters would vote for them as independents in the hope that if they win they would be allowed to take the whip once the dust had settled.
What other solution could there be?

It’s easy to understand people on the periphery and ignorant of gambling law thinking it harmless fun to bet a tenner or two once they’d heard a rumour of a July election. I hope we don’t see several policemen losing their jobs.

A reserve list of candidates winterwhite, or the second choice in the constituency when the party chose the candidate, I think either of those options could work? I don’t think people would want to vote for somebody in the hope they will be innocent, when they may be guilty and you could be stuck with them as your MP for five years.

It’s easy to understand people on the periphery and ignorant of gambling law thinking it harmless fun to bet a tenner or two once they’d heard a rumour of a July election. I hope we don’t see several policemen losing their jobs.

I despair.

Yes, reserve candidates would be a solution, though since we're supposed to vote for the person not the party that could create a separate set of difficulties as late in the campaign as this.

I think that when a candidate dies in mid campaign the poll in that constituency is stopped and rerun later with a replacement candidate, the others remaining the same.

It seems Sunak has finally stopped prevaricating and recognised that keeping them on board was unsustainable after so much public anger.

The only decision really. Was it worth trashing their future for the prospect of winning a few hundred pounds?

A Labour candidate has been sacked now - for betting against himself. How bizarre. How many more will come out of the woodwork I wonder.
news.sky.com/story/labour-candidate-suspended-as-gambling-commission-launches-investigation-13158716

Not sure about the Labour guy - sounds a bit of a numpty but nefarious? Unless he set out deliberately to lose to win a few quid.

What an idiot!

At least he’s been suspended immediately by Labour. But that’s another constituency where people aren’t properly represented.

What a

Oops pressed too soon! Was going to say what a sh**show🙈

And another one bites the dust - this is getting really serious.
news.sky.com/story/election-2024-sunak-starmer-conservatives-labour-reform-lib-dem-12593360?postid=7872641#liveblog-body

What on earth is going on