Two thirds of public say candidates who placed bets on election date shouldn’t be allowed to stand – London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com

Two thirds (63%) of the UK public say that candidates who had placed bets on the date of the general election should not be allowed to stand, in research by Savanta conducted before (21-24 June) the Conservative Party’s announcement of withdrawing their support.

Only one in five (22%) said the candidates should have been allowed to stand.

With news breaking that Rishi Sunak’s party can “no longer support” Craig Williams or Laura Saunders, Savanta’s research underlines the challenges the prime minister faces, as even over half (54%) of Conservative voters say that the candidates shouldn’t have been allowed to stand.

Savanta’s findings suggests widespread anger among the public over the scandal, with 66% saying it was “unacceptable” for Conservative candidates to place bets on the date of the general election. Nearly seven in ten (67%) Conservative voters say the bets were unacceptable.

Emma Levin, Associate Director at Savanta said, “Why did it take Rishi Sunak so long to act? Our research suggests the public shared his anger at Conservative candidates for placing bets on the date of the election.

“Over half of Conservative voters say those candidates shouldn’t have been allowed to stand – they now have their wish – but after nearly a week of headlines, is it too little too late?”