Voters react to Labour candidate's bet suspension

Voters react to Labour candidate Kevin Craig being suspended over a bet on his election chances

Voters in a constituency where a parliamentary candidate admitted placing a bet on himself to lose have been expressing their thoughts on his suspension.

Labour suspended Kevin Craig as its candidate for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich after learning the Gambling Commission had launched an investigation into his action.

Mr Craig has apologised and said he made a "stupid error" by betting he would lose in his bid to become an MP.

He claimed he had planned to give "any winnings to local charities".

Jane Hayward was very critical of Kevin Craig's actions

At a carboot sale at Stonham Barns, near Stowmarket, people reacted with disappointment.

"How can you stand for the people of your area and then try and make money off your own people?" said Jane Hayward, 34.

"He's made a mockery of himself, he's made a mockery of who he stands for, what he stands for, so why should he be part of it?

"Shame on you."

Alan Morley thought Kevin Craig's bet might have been a publicity stunt

Speaking to the BBC in Whitton, north Ipswich, Alan Morley, said: "I think he was doing it more as a joke to get publicity, rather than anything malicious.

"It's a general election - various different politicians have various different tricks to try and raise awareness and garner votes. I don’t hold anything against him."

Pressed on whether Labour leader Keir Starmer was right to suspend him, Mr Morley said: "Yes, because it's to do with betting and someone who's a candidate shouldn't be doing that.

"But I think he's been caught up in the whirlwind with what's been going on with Rishi Sunak's compadres."

John Watson wants Kevin Craig to withdraw his candidacy

Voter John Watson was less generous.

"I'm very disappointed in it and think it is absolutely wrong what he's done," he said.

"You shouldn't be allowed to make a profit on an election when you're standing – it's terrible.

"I don't think he should stand. He should withdraw."

Mr Craig will still appear on the ballot paper under the Labour Party, as it is too late to change the information.

As well as suspending him, the Labour Party has also returned his £100,000 donation given in May 2023.

Jo Davis says Mr Craig has been "silly"

Jo Davis said she was rather perplexed by the candidate's actions.

"Well, I thought that was rather silly," she said.

"If you're striving to win a seat, why would you put a bet against yourself?

"You've got to do all you can to win. It's just a bit bizarre."

Shaun Doyle says the investigation into politicians and candidates gambling on election issues is concerning

Shaun Doyle thinks the whole saga is rather worrying.

"It's a bit out of control really," he said.

"In a sense, if it was in a football standard he would be suspended and potentially lose the act of playing.

"But if he wins, he gains money, if he loses, he gains money – so it's basically him trying to benefit his pocket."

Questioned further on whether Mr Craig should have been suspended by the Labour Party pending the investigation, he said: "Yeah – and I don't think he should be reinstated either."

The Suffolk seat was won by Conservative's Dan Poulter in 2019, with Mr Poulter defecting to Labour in April.

He is not standing in the 2024 election.

A full list of candidates in the seat can be viewed here.