Sunak Angered by Betting Allegations in Party

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said during a televised debate that he was "incredibly angry" to hear that three of his party colleagues were being investigated over allegedly placing bets on an early announcement of the general election, adding that anyone found to have broken the rules would be "booted out" of the party.

On another chaotic day for the governing Conservatives, the party's campaign director took a leave of absence, linked to an investigation around bets being placed on the timing of the vote before it was announced.

"Well, like you, I was incredibly angry, incredibly angry to learn of these allegations. It's a really serious matter. It's right that they're being investigated properly by the relevant law enforcement authorities, including, as Fiona said, a criminal investigation by the police. And I want to be crystal clear that if anyone has broken the rules, they should face the full force of the law," Sunak said.

The allegations that a second Conservative candidate was being investigated by Britain's gambling regulator and may have attempted to profit from their political knowledge of the timing of the election is the latest setback in Sunak's faltering efforts to stay in Downing Street.

Starmer struggled to say whether he really believed his predecessor as leader of the Labour party, Jeremy Corbyn, would have made a good prime minister during the debate.

The Scottish National Party's John Swinney faced tricky questions on his party's turbulent recent history, with three leaders in post in the last 18 months.

The SNP has dominated Scottish politics for 17 years but its popularity has slipped over the past year amid a funding scandal, a series of political blunders, and criticism of how it runs the country.

Polls indicate Britain is on course to elect a center-left Labour government led by Keir Starmer, ending 14 years of rule by the Conservatives.