General election 2024 latest:Second Tory candidate faces gambling probe as party rocked by poll predicting wipeout

Polling expert Sir John Curtice has said Rishi Sunak’s general election campaign has “not had any success” in reducing the gap with Labour in opinion polls.

The Professor told BBC Radio 4 Today: “Labour are now averaging 41 per cent which is three points down on where they were when Mr Sunak called the election.

“But they still remain 20 points ahead of the Conservatives because the Conservatives are now on 21 per cent which is also three points down on where they were.

“So Mr Sunak’s campaign has not had any success, according to these regular polls, in narrowing Labour’s lead.”

The Gambling Commission is investigating a second Tory candidate for taking a bet on the date of the election who may have had inside knowledge ahead of Rishi Sunak’s surprise announcement, the BBC has reported.

This follows an admission by one of the prime minister’s closest aides Crag Williams that he “took a flutter” on the election date just days before it was announced.

Mr Williams, who was Mr sunak’s parliamentary private secretary, has since returned the money and apologised but is also under investigation from the Gambling Commisson.

But pressure is mounting for the Tories to take tougher action after it was reported a close protection officer for the prime minister was suspended by the Metropolitan Police and being investigated.

Michael Gove said the wipeout the Tories are facing in the polls does not nake “cheery reading” for the party.

But he is convinced the predicted result can still be turned around. He says: “The opinion polls, as I acknowledged and as we both know, they’re not great.

“But it’s not the 90th minute, you know, we’re not in Fergie time yet. So there is still an opportunity.”

The housing secretary is speaking to Sky News as part of the morning media round. He has addressed the Gambling Commission probes into Tory party candidates.

Mr Gove said: “I know that there are two people who are now subject to this process, I think, from the Gambling Commission.”

He added that a police offiecr is also under a “sort of parallel process” and described the situation “deeply disturbing”.

James Cleverly “lacks the appetite” to stand in the Tory leadership race following a presumed election loss, according to sources close to him.

Mr Cleverly, who previously served as foreign secretary, is reported to be focusing on winning re-election in his Baintree constituency and “doesn’t want” the leadership as much as other colleagues.

“He’s focused on winning Braintree and returning and as far as he’s concerned he’s done the two of the most high profile jobs in government and he’s still focused on delivering on the second of them,” the source told The Times.

With just two weeks away from July 4, parties are stepping up their campaigns as they fight for every vote. Here’s what we can expect from today:

• Housing secretary Michael Gove will be on a visit in west London.
• Sir Keir Starmer campaigning in North Yorkshire where he is expected to tour a housing development.
• Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey on a campaign visit in Sheffield.
• Nigel Farage is expected to make speech in Frodsham, Cheshire before possibly doing a walkabout in a nearby town. He will then make a speech at a public event at the Imperial Hotel in Blackpool.
• Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves, will be speaking at Times CEO summit.
• Scottish Greens unveil their manifesto with co-leaders Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie.
• Question Time Leaders’ Special to air on BBC One from York, and it will be attended by Rishi Sunak, Sir Keir Starmer, Sir Ed Davey and John Swinney.