Well, that's unfortunate timing....

[davidgillon]

The Tories' head of campaigns has had to take a leave of absence in the middle of the election, because his wife's the latest Tory found to have placed a bet on the election date. I wonder how she could have guessed what it would be....

So far that's two Tory candidates and one of Sunak's close protection officers found betting on the date. It's like the Tories corrupt everything they touch.

And the fact the cop has been arrested and suspended, while the other two are still Tory candidates really doesn't look good.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jun/20/gambling-watchdog-looks-into-second-tory-candidate-over-alleged-election-bet-laura-saunders

Comments

[davidgillon]

Apparently the Tories have now pulled an online ad they released yesterday featuring a picture of a roulette wheel, and the caption "If you bet on Labour, you can never win." I guess even they could realise it was just inviting lines about the Tories rigging the betting.

Speaking of online ads, still only getting Labour ones, though I am seeing an occasional FB post (not ad) from the Tory candidate in Gravesham. That could be because FB seems convinced I live in Gravesham - I don't, I'm not even in the neighbouring constituency, or it could be because I saw a post of his where he was talking about "I was in the Grenadier Guards and the defence budget is only safe in Tory hands", which I comprehensively trashed for him with some actual facts about Tory defence spending (which is down, not up).

[hilarita]

roulette wheel ad pull -> ahahaha
Satirists are sitting back as the jokes just make themselves...

[hairyears]

Pass the peanuts and the popcorn...

There's an obvious reason for the July election - the polls will have fallen even further if the Conservatives cling onto power until January - but it's interesting to speculate on the specifics: court dates for fraud trials associated with the Covid PPE crisis, and the deteriorating state of healthcare, law enforcement, and education descending into the kinds of crises that generate headlines.

[rmc28]

That and also I suspect a healthy dose of Sunak thinking "this isn't fun any more, what even is the point of dragging things out another six months".

Someone said his kid finishes school on 5 July, which seems early, but is almost plausible as a final "fuckit, we're going on summer holiday once this nightmare is over" tipping point; my kids are finishing 12 and 19 July (both in independent special needs provision) but I think all the local mainstream schools finish 19 July too.