Election betting: Tories drop two candidates in major U-turn

Party says it can no longer support Craig Williams and Laura Saunders - who are under investigation over alleged bets

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The Conservative party has finally dropped the two candidates who are under investigation for allegedly placing suspicious bets about the date of the election, after previously standing by them.

In a major U-turn, the party said it could no longer support the candidacy of Craig Williams, a parliamentary private secretary to Rishi Sunak standing in Montgomeryshire and Glyndr, and Laura Saunders, the candidate for Bristol North West. Saunders is married to the Conservatives' head of campaigning, Tony Lee, who has taken a leave of absence.