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Bet probe Tory was previously married to his wife’s opponent

(Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)

Dear oh dear. With less than two weeks to go until polling day, Rishi Sunak’s campaign has been hit with more bad news. Over the last 24 hours, it has emerged that now two Tory candidates – Laura Saunders in addition to Craig Williams – are under investigation by the Gambling Commission after placing bets on the general election date.

It gets murkier: Saunders is married to the Conservative party’s campaign director Tony Lee – who has been forced to go on leave after also coming under investigation for election gambling. And now Mr S can reveal another mind-boggling piece of the puzzle: Lee’s ex-wife, Mary Page, is the Green candidate in Bristol North West – standing against his current wife, Saunders. Whew. That’s taking rivalry to the next level…

Mr S hears from multiple sources that Page, a former journalist who went on to work at South Gloucestershire council and the Department for Work and Pensions, was previously married to Lee.

Steerpike
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Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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