"Why hasn't he suspended them?" James Cleverly challenged on Tory election betting | LBC

[@stevebell6057]

The UK Gambling Commission has no legal right to silence anyone - he’s just using them to hide behind.

[@jaybee4288]

In fairness they can request that details of their internal investigations aren’t leaked to the press. Whether they have power to enforce that or not I don’t know but it’s a reasonable request. He could still get around these questions without providing sensitive information though.

[@mwscuba]

Yep he is telling porkie pies again

[@garagenigel]

Why is it taking so long to investigate? It could be sorted in an afternoon!​@@jaybee4288

[@dianeglanville]

he loves to hide behind the truth

[@robinholland1136]

@stevebell6057 What's the betting the Gambling Commission will release a statement tomorrow that they have never told Sunak and his henchmen/women to maintain absolute silence regarding this scandal.

[@williamgeorgefraser]

"But Labour..." That has been the standard Tory answer to any question for the past 14 years.

[@tazgecko]

"If you vote Labour, the UK will implode", their election strategy.

[@V4Now]

You can't blame them, it worked for 14 years😑

[@andrewjones-productions]

There has always been that element, but as you say, it has become the standard answer of the Tories and also of many in the broader opposition too and we have seen that in the TV debates where they spend as much time attacking each other as they do vaguely describing what they would do. The politicians nowadays are of such a low level I cannot see any real, tangible change for the better on the horizon. There will be some change, but probably not enough and enough of it in the right direction.

[@deco2132]

'But Tories........' will be the standard for the next 4/5 years while Labour continue to do the exact same as them watch.

[@calumhenderson9404]

@@deco2132 Agreed they all Blairite parties led by foreign powers pretending Britain is still sovereign. only maybe option left is reform.

[@williamwade641]

Cleverly is conveniently forgetting that Kier Starmer was not in government when he was being investigated.

[@MAGAted]

neither were these people do you understand now ?

[@YeahNoTellTheTruth]

The moment he used whataboutsim is when you can tell they are more focused on imagine than what us right or wrong. They need to go and never return.

[@parametr]

@@MAGAted Sunak was in government before he called the general election. Actually, he is still the PM. Cleverly was also in government. These people were working directly for the PM or married to somebody who did.

[@XenonPrimeSBSV]

​@@MAGAtedThere are no MPs but every Minister is still a Minister, being appointed positions and thus part of the government.

[@KevinMeeds]

@@MAGAted More to the point do you understand...?

[@kevingrant7098]

Why isn’t there an investigation into dodgy PPE contracts? Allegedly Rishi Sunak’s family invested one .5 billion in BP shares and shortly afterwards granted fossil fuel companies hundreds of new drilling licenses . If that is true, wouldn’t that be inside trading?

[@V4Now]

There's probably a technicality involved but there's not enough political will to investigate it, even by Labour

[@GaryV-p3h]

Labour has alreay said there will be investigations into recovering the money as soon as they get elected.

[@simmybear31]

Labour are appointing a minister to investigate PPE fraud if they win the election.

[@GaryV-p3h]

@@V4Now Labour has already said they will go after those responsible & try to recover as much as possible.

[@julianshepherd2038]

They found a working class Scottish couple to blame so job done.

[@rufus1346]

Accountability and integrity Tory style...

[@CBM902Q]

Yep

[@knockshinnoch1950]

And they wonder why the public has zero confidence in them... In any other job/profession a person accused of a crime would automatically be suspended- PERIOD.

[@Rosskles]

At this point I'm going to put bets on how many more tories are going to be outed 😂

[@real_wakawaka]

Suspended? 😂😅 no any normal person would be in jail ffs!

[@timbrown4576]

Not to worry James, you'll be out in 2 weeks.

[@Boghopper9999]

Worryingly, he's one of the ones we should hope will survive (to give the one nations a chance of winning the upcoming internal leadership battle against the Braverman/Priti Patel extremist faction)

[@ynnadanny]

​​@@Boghopper9999nah let the party destroy itself; they accepted this fate back in 2016 when they bent over for the far right to make Brexit their tool. A more centre Labour and an increasingly popular Lib Dems is the best outcome for our country right now (until we get electoral reform and proportional representation).

[@glennaustin37]

​@@Boghopper9999 well, on that, (a) hopefully they won't be re-elected either, (b) even if all if them are, this particular loser has no chance of challenging a paper bag, and (c) if someone like Braverman or Patel did become their leader that would only serve to ensure they continue to be unelectable.

[@brianferguson7840]

Difference is........ Kier Starmer and Angela Rayner did absolutely nothing wrong ! Nothing at all. Nada, Zilch,

[@darrennandrewfitness2836]

They even put their jobs on the line

[@brianferguson7840]

​​@darrennandrewfitness2836 Imagine a Tory ever "promising to resign" immediately in any situation

[@darrens2601]

That's because the laws they make are in there favour,there all corrupt

[@Steve-s8k]

You don't know for sure.

[@blazzz13]

@@Steve-s8k We know the Tories haven't and wouldn't- as we can see in this latest scandal. Try again apologist

[@AhmedAdams-w2n]

How does any Briton still vote for this motley Crew

[@Dogboy73]

They sound so utterly spent. It’s almost not worth bothering to interview them anymore. It will all be over very soon. Thank goodness.

[@tedthesailor172]

Agreed. A Tory interview is beginning to resemble a seance...

[@debb6393]

@@tedthesailor172😂

[@chatham43]

@Dogboy You think Tories mk 2 will be any better or haven't you thought that bit through yet?

[@martinrose2833]

When Starmer and Rainer were investigated by the Police and found to have no case to answer it was as a direct result of the Tory Party Government wasting Police time .

[@econundrum1977]

You may not agree Cleverly but it's a fact the Conservative party no longer abide by any standards. He keeps evading and distracting all they ever do, disgusting.

[@jonathanelse2697]

The argument that Starmer and Rainer should have suspend themselves is pathetic. Sunak should have resigned for being prosecuted. Show some actual leadership in this would be better but is not going to improve his standing. Pathetic weak leadership by the tories. Indicative of the last 14 years.

[@tedthesailor172]

Tories don't do leadership. Conservatives sometimes did in the past, but Tories just react to events, and about as ineptly as it's possible to imagine...

[@andrewguthrie2]

They were only being "investigated " because of malicious and unfounded allegations by tory MPs, which the police actually had an obligation to look into. On that basis we could have the entire tory front bench suspended.

[@paulhammond6978]

The police looked into Starmer and rainer and found there was no case to answer. Like he says, we don't know the outcome of the Gambling commission on people making bets on the election with insider knowledge.

[@johnmartin7158]

Let’s celebrate on July 4th.

[@andrewguthrie2]

@@paulhammond6978 Of course we don't.

[@alanrobinson8510]

Just in case anyone missed it, "the Gambling Commission has made it very clear yadda yadda......"

[@RichardFraser-y9t]

I missed that.

[@swarming1092]

It's a fair point tbh, and there's not really much point pushing on it. If the Gambing Commission are saying "do not discuss this in public while we investigate", then fair enough.

[@tedthesailor172]

Yeah - apparently were now governed by the Gambling Commission and our MP's must do their bidding...

[@josephkerrigan733]

@@swarming1092 Why would you believe the Tories? Literally what in the last 14 years has given you the impression that they ever tell the truth? If the Gambling commission came out & said "We didn't say you can't discuss it we just said don't interfere in it & don't talk with the people we're investigating" the Tories would just say "Oh we misunderstood" or "we decided to take the highest standards & not only not discuss it with the people being investigated but also not discuss it with the media & public". I find it incredible that your natural assumption is to believe the politician who as part of his party has lied at each and every opportunity possible.

[@paulgibbon5991]

@@swarming1092 Five gives you ten they said no such thing.

[@lornalow7479]

He can't even lie properly 😂😂

[@frederickfarmer3304]

How does one "lie properly"?

[@El_Paracleto]

Twas CLEAR as DAYLIGHT...

[@julianshepherd2038]

His brain is conflicted between reality and what he is saying. All that money on an education and he can't even lie to the,plebs.

[@julianshepherd2038]

​@@frederickfarmer3304convincingly

[@chatham43]

@lorna He needs lessons off Raynor that's for sure!😊

[@captainhowdy9845]

When the answer to your problem is 'Can we send James Cleverly out to talk to the press?', you have scraped the bottom of every barrel known to humankind.

[@ZeroCrystal]

James Cleverly: England's biggest misnomer.

[@1ForTheShieldz]

Ask Diane Abbot to investigate, I'd love to see the maths behind the odds from her 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 now she is just a national disgrace

[@methanedirigible]

@@1ForTheShieldz😂😂😂😂 who cares the Tories are on their way to extinction 😂😂

[@sbrown314]

How much money do you want to bet that the Gambling Commission have NOT told the Tories that they should not be discussing it 😅

[@tedthesailor172]

Since when does a quango dictate to the elected government...? They can advise, and that's all.

[@seanhaywood4597]

how do you know? have you got some inside knoledge

[@Bobbob-qe7pf]

@@seanhaywood4597I bet he has.

[@alanmichael5619]

I see what you did there! 😉

[@Fanto_Sir]

The Gammon commission hiding behind the Gambling commission. The Tories are about to become extinct.

[@chatham43]

@Fanto Unlikely. Getting hysterical is counter productive!

[@Fanto_Sir]

@@chatham43 hysterical?

[@jamesfizz]

How can the gambling commission have the power to tell people not to discuss it? They’re not the law.

[@wolfen210959]

They can't, but they could advise a person being investigated that they shouldn't discuss it, so has Cleverly just outed himself as being under investigation?

[@theresoluteone]

The police officer has already been suspended and is facing charges. This was on the day he was found out. The Tories still haven't suspended those that have obviously done the same thing.

[@jameshurcombe2049]

It's not just the apple it's the whole orchid tree that is rotten

[@lukepowerzz4125]

Poison Ivy surely?

[@DrMontague]

The rot will soon spread to the tory labour party!

[@susanmorgan3104]

Completely agree 👍🏻

[@rossilavery]

Can someone please contact the gambling commission and ask them to confirm that they have advised the government not to discuss this? It sounds like more Boris Johnson "cannot comment on an ongoing investigation" corrupt evasion twaddle to me.

[@danmayberry1185]

The PM who bet on a UK financial crisis is furious!

[@jonathanelse2697]

This has been ongoing for 2 weeks before it broke in the news.

[@planemad]

They got their massive brush out

[@Whiplashed]

Not very clever is he

[@rufus1346]

In the same way 'Little John' was big

[@glyndavies5479]

Jimmy Dimly!

[@Boghopper9999]

So much for the theory of nominative determinism eh! 😋

[@mogzybuster]

clevery is such an oxymoron

[@pieropasset2246]

Absolutely!!!!!

[@JonnM]

😂

[@johnlager584]

Doing nothing is more damaging, the tories must live is a delusional bubble where people still believe them

[@bustedfender]

Yes, but have the Gambling Commission told you not to talk about it, Home Secretary?

[@wolfen210959]

Only if he was being investigated.

[@Mandeley100]

Jimmy Stupidly living up to his nickname yet again. inept, incompetent and defending the indefensible (or as he's often know, the PM).

[@robinholland1136]

You forgot 'lying' in your description of Jimmy.

[@Fanto_Sir]

Sunak is not suspending them because it sets the precedent. He'd have to suspend more candidates when they are found out to be involved. Lies on top of lies. The layers of tory corruption are myriad.

[@Dilbert-o5k]

And yet he suspended other MPs very quickly for other reasons which weren't breaking the law

[@JelMain]

Why hasn't anyone been arrested yet?

[@jonathangrant692]

How many insider trading deals have they got away with that we'll never hear about?

[@woodencreatures]

Cleverly does not live up to his name. It drives me insane when they say we can't discuss it for whatever reason, it's pathetic

[@jcanyiam8309]

Sunak STARTED the GAMBLING situation in his Party with Piers Morgan with £1,000 bet on his RWANDA SCHEME and LOST!!! Like Leader, like Staffs

[@gillianpope9039]

He also made his fortune from gambling!!!!!

[@chatham43]

@jcan No need to shout old boy...and this isn't the first time!

[@janetmontgomery-r6j]

They should be suspended during investigation

[@Michael-yq2ut]

The copper got arrested but not the Tories, i wonder why.

[@james2156]

There are not words strong enough to describe just how disgraceful these Tory’s are

[@The19610211]

Seriously, can’t even say he’s angry! Labour need to create a campaign video that shows every time Sunak, Bojo and their cabinet members have said they can’t comment on an ongoing investigation into one of their members. It would be vey powerful.

[@buzzkaye9734]

Just another despicable lying tory! Getting boring now

[@chatham43]

@buzz But you're still here boring us all with another tedious remark.

[@buzzkaye9734]

Nothing tedious about calling out the filth, the shell of the country is empty after the self serving thatcherites have hollowed it out for pure greed, I hope not to mention them ever again after the election 😀 👍

[@Alex-cw3rz]

What do you expect from sunak who worked at Goldman Sachs.

[@obscurazone]

"As I say, as I say, as I say, as I say, as I say, as I say" whilst saying absolutely nothing whatsoever, as per. Cannot WAIT to see the back of these crooks

[@chatham43]

@obscure So which crooks are you going to vote for?

[@idavo]

Go on Lewis - push him.

[@paulnormanoxley6056]

I am flabbergasted and I hope that this matter are dealt with expeditious.

[@diamonddave2622]

I voted this morning - the envelope made a satisfying noise in the post box...

[@howardgayton2127]

Can I get the odds on which Cabinet Minister that might be involved?

[@nickd.6365]

Could be any number of them. My money's on Shapps or Philp

[@andrewjones-productions]

I bet on Cleverly. He was so insistent that the Gambling Commission state that he should not discuss this matter, that it could very well mean that anything he says now may incriminate him in a future investigation. If Sunak was really committed to bringing back integrity to the party, this was his perfect opportunity to rid himself of all the clowns that Boris Johnson has encouraged by his own immoral behaviour as Prime Minister. Either Sunak is as corrupt as the rest or he is simply an ineffective, useless, hopeless and inept leader. Either way, he clearly doesn't deserve to retain his seat, let alone his job as Prime Minister. Even if by some miraculous fluke that the Tories actually win the election. They won't of course and rightly so.

[@TimoDyer]

'I'm very sad you think that way voters.. About your corruption complaints'. Is written all over his face.

[@hhhx3]

One rule for them and another rule for non politician citizens of this nation

[@chriselsey84]

The only thing on Sunak’s mind is moving to California. Simple!

[@maccampbell8359]

Several times he says the gambling commission has said he shouldn't be talking about this @ perhaps its time the gambling commission was investigated.

[@robertjones3189]

No point in suspending any GE candidates. The electorate can give them a 10 year ban on July 4th.

[@GaryV-p3h]

I'd prefer a lifetime ban, for at least my lifetime anyway.

[@seraaron]

It's really telling when he says "sorry is that a question?" at 1:31 , and then he goes off and says the line he's practiced saying and had already rolled out twice in the minute and a half prior. Him saying "sorry is that a question?" is literally the most earnest i've ever heard him speak.

[@andrewmcneil]

Next headline, gambling commission says we did not say that 😂😂

[@JBrown_Trivium]

WELL DONE LEWIS ! Hold his feet to fire of his partys incompetence

[@michaelcrabb6138]

Kier and Angela were innocent and your lot has been caught red handed. And since when does one party take guidance from their political rival 😂

[@chatham43]

@michael Raynor had every right to make a tasty profit from selling an ex council property. It's neither illegal or morally wrong. That money would certainly come in handy for her.😊

[@monkeyboy8424]

Jimmy Dimly should focus on his next job.

[@Lynnefromlyn]

Oh I expect he has it all lined up. Like the rest of them. Sunak will have even booked his flight.

[@alfching2499]

Drug Running

[@JonnM]

Cleverly is being totally disingenuous here. He’s neither doing himself or the Tories any favours here by his behaviour in this interview.

[@drumpaul1347]

Played a drinking game to this tonight, for every time that frustrating plank says "clear" or "as I say". Completely Volvo'd now, and about to have my stomach pumped.

[@Jericho642]

Tory leadership is about 5 minutes away from saying “the individuals involved have apologized, so its time to move on”.

[@alanmichael5619]

This latest season of the Thick of It is just starting to feel unrealistic.

[@frankoneill5675]

I wonder if anyone has told him not to discuss it

[@keeklawless9248]

“We must wait for the outcome” They’ve had so many scandals that are being investigated, no wonder why they’re taking so long for outcomes. …

[@paulgibbon5991]

We must wait until the news cycle moves on!

[@catherinemartin6258]

We all know it’s going to be true and probably even worse than we think’ we have been here so many times before.

[@chatham43]

@catherine And even if it isn't...we don't care. We hate the tories!

[@johngorton-qu9xn]

Tories out

[@AustinRogan]

👍 Reform in 👍👍

[@andrewguthrie2]

​@@AustinRogan😂😂😂😂😂😂🤡🤡

[@komputnik]

…James anti-Cleverly hasn't spoken…

[@IanMcIntosh-h9s]

The Gambling Commission have said they will not discuss it, there is no way they specifically told anyone that they should not discuss it. He is clearly telling porkies.

[@drinksafewater]

Cleverly is covered in Teflon - Not a grain of honesty shown here.

[@MultiNacnud]

Are the Tory's BETter off with them or BETter off without them. It's a gamble either way. I'm hedging my BETs on this one.

[@Gerrygambone]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@wearsider]

There are people who live abroad who are now allowed to vote where as they couldn't before because of the 15 year rule , which used to be that people who have lived outside of the UK longer than 15 years were not allowed to vote anymore, this law has been scraped, so there are millions who live outside of the UK who are now allowed to vote, who I think that nobody seems to take into account when it comes to the outcome of the Election. Who knows what difference this will make, if any, but you never know.

[@claudiafigueiredo4979]

They where able to vote for brexit

[@wearsider]

@@claudiafigueiredo4979 Brits living outside of the UK as civilians longer than 15 years, have never been allowed to vote (with exceptions ). The 15 year rule has been in force for at least 40 years or more.

[@Rts22375]

Cant wait till this disaster or a government are gone they are a absolute embarrassment..

[@ianbhoy1888]

The Gambling Commission have told us not to discuss this matter so I'm just going to discuss it. 😂

[@Ealsante]

The only reason Cleverly hasn't brought up Emily Thornberry is because he's too dim to recall a six syllable name.

[@hg82met]

I get a chuckle every time I hear the name 'Cleverly'.

[@lindaajide2115]

He sounds like a character from The thick of it

[@multilecful]

Liar liar pants on fire 😅😅😅😅

[@hashtag_thisguy]

Can't manage in party antics but wants to us to trust them with the country.

[@ibelieveyou2066]

Hilarious, watching Rishi Sunak, on the leaders debate TV programme. He casually dismissed, and rejected EVERYONES opinions, basically, he was saying 'yep, I don't care what whoever says about whatever, I will press on with MY things, MY way'. Astonishing.

[@paulgibbon5991]

It's Trumpism. Some people mistake that childish conduct for strong leadership.

[@1erkyrob2]

The tories are as bent as they come, I bet you could not find a single one who has not taken some sort of bribe or back hander or benefit from a business, or taken a job on the side.

[@JonnM]

I never in my life thought I could vote Labour, but in this case I’m definitely supporting them. The Tories have just lost the plot. They’re even lying to themselves at this point. Cameron calling the referendum on Brexit was a defining moment, both for Britain and the Conservatives; it broke the party.

[@iainmunro438]

Sorry it broke the country.

[@vincentedwards6749]

cleverly is a total waste of space, they wouldn't even have him inRwanda he is such a liar

[@chatham43]

@vincent What do you mean even in Rwanda??!

[@Alex-cw3rz]

James Not-so-cleverly

[@chatham43]

Well worked out. Another weekend not wasted.😂😂

[@XTRAIT-em4rx]

Of course the Tories won't act reasonably. No different to the issue with Frank Hester.

[@stuarthall2523]

Corruption everywhere you look

[@rossleahy2150]

He should apply for a name change by deed poll

[@continuumhypothesis2476]

Tories rotten to the core.

[@doctordeej]

“But Labour didn’t!” And who made the most noise demanding that they did do it? The Tories. You can’t have it both ways. Either Labour didn’t need to - and by extension neither do you, or Labour should have suspended people and, again by extension, so should you.

[@jstoner9029]

“I don’t know who is involved in this”. Just ask them. If you are not confident that you will get a truthful answer then that is all you need to know. They should not be in your party.

[@DoneDunning]

Where's this one going? One can only wonder.

[@dismalfist]

You remember when they got the police to investigate Rayner for doing, well, literally nothing wrong? Those coppers must be at a loose end at the moment, get them on this pronto!

[@Steve-s8k]

We don't know she did nothing wrong.

[@IMBlakeley]

@@Steve-s8k But we do, the old bill and HMRC investigated twice in the case of the police and exonerated her.

[@Steve-s8k]

@@IMBlakeley They can only see what evidence is in front of them, not what actually happened. And I wouldn't trust them to investigate anything to do with Labour, there is far too much bias, as we know from Labour's party

[@Steve-s8k]

@@IMBlakeley They can only see the evidence in front of them not what really happened and I wouldn't trust them to investigate anything that is to do with Labour after Labour's party fiasco.

[@Steve-s8k]

@@IMBlakeley They can only go on the evidence they see, not what really happened.

[@hastekulvaati9681]

Cloverly is really looking a lot like the Bo-Selecta mask of Micheal Jackson.

[@MrBizteck]

Lol now I see it too!

[@Daveonthelevel]

Is there a valid reason why the police officer was ARRESTED, but the three Tories have not, or are we left to conclude that the Tories have the Police in their pockets?

[@andrewpearce6624]

It’s another case of no leadership from the PM and another case of one rule for everybody else and one rule for the Tories.

[@nathangoodman3280]

Guess doesn't want to risk having bunch of candidates suspended from party since the ballot papers are printed

[@garagenigel]

He's not angry because they are all at it and always have been!

[@MiPointIs]

With reports that the gambling commission has asked bookies to check for more bets placed by those in Westminster or their close friends if this is as widespread as the commission fears then you have to ask how many would be suspended pending investigation report!

[@jamesfizz]

Shouldn’t James have stepped down when he thought it was okay to make a comment about drugging his wife?

[@chatham43]

@james Dunno Should you have done?

[@dekmackie]

​@@chatham43eh? 😂 what?

[@BethellAthletico]

ZERO Tory seats.

[@gavinparry5426]

The Tories are about to take a Leave of Absence

[@BrianFairlamb]

These Tories simply just don't get it they have nothing left they are finished and rightly so they have destroyed this country in numerous ways and its never their fault ,

[@Sandorah7Reynolds]

Chuck Sunak out, of course he can't do the job, it's not his job, never was. Gordon Brown was enthroned by Blair, we turfed him at the first opportunity. We Brits like to elect our leaders.