Politics

"If the Gambling Commission now requests that data from the betting companies, this could turn into a scandal on the scale of the MPs’ expenses scandal,"

Scotland Secretary Alister Jack denied having broken any rules but said he put three wagers on the timing of the July 4 poll.

Kevin Craig admitted making a ‘stupid error of judgment’ by placing a wager on the Tories defeating him in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich.

The Northern Ireland minister also described the state of the Conservative Party as a ‘mess’.

"I've always voted Conservative but I'll never do it again."

The Health Secretary is being discussed as a future Tory leadership option after an expected defeat on July 4.

All results are being counted overnight, with the first results expected around midnight and final results due at around 6am on July 5.

Craig Williams and Laura Saunders have been cut adrift by the party over allegations they bet on the date of the General Election.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper pointed to record figures for small boat crossings, saying ‘people are not waiting, they are arriving’.