\n
A Conservative cabinet minister has admitted placing three bets on the date of the general election in the weeks before Rishi Sunak\u2019s surprise announcement.<\/b><\/p>\n
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack told the BBC that in April he placed a successful bet that the election date would fall between July and September – after losing two similar bets in March.<\/p>\n
Mr Jack who is standing down at the election after seven years in Parliament, says he has not breached any rules.<\/p>\n
He had originally told the BBC he had made \u00a32,100 from one of the bets – but later claimed his comments were “a joke… I was pulling your leg”.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Mr Jack admitted he had placed a \u00a320 bet at five to one – which would have netted him a return of \u00a3120.<\/p>\n
He said he had also “put two bets on in March of \u00a35 each for an election to be held in May and June respectively”.<\/p>\n
The prime minister made his surprise election announcement on 22 May. <\/p>\n
Mr Jack said in a statement: “I had no knowledge of the date of the election until the day it was called.<\/p>\n
“I placed no bets in May and am not under investigation by the Gambling Commission.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
![\"Alister](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/f24f\/live\/93a5b670-3317-11ef-b81e-b1bf192edc3d.jpg.webp)
<\/picture><\/span>EPA<\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n