Why the next Westminster scandal is already here
In British politics scandals are not exposed. They are simply noticed
All Westminster scandals are obvious in retrospect. The furore over mps and aides betting on the date of the general election is no exception. Gambling is rife in Westminster. Memoirs are stuffed with amusing anecdotes of special advisers placing wagers: in the general election in 2017, one adviser lumped £8,000 ($10,100) on a Tory victory in the hope of winning £1,000, only to lose it all when Theresa May blew her majority. Gambling permeates everyday political coverage: bookmakers offer odds on everything from election dates to future party leaders, and journalists obligingly write them up.
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This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “The next political scandal is already here”
Britain June 29th 2024
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From the June 29th 2024 edition
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