A Labour candidate who was suspended for betting against himself has urged Sir Keir Starmer to ban all gambling by politicians on elections.

Kevin Craig was investigated over a bet he placed on the Tories to win the Central Suffolk and North Ipswich seat where he was standing for Labour at the general election.

Less than two weeks before the 4 July vote, Mr Craig was suspended by Labour when the party was informed of the Gambling Commission probe into his wager.

It came amid a wider row over political betting with the Tories suspending two of their own candidates – including a close aide of ex-PM Rishi Sunak – after they allegedly bet on the date of the election.

A police officer in Mr Sunak’s close protection team was also suspended over alleged bets about the timing of the 4 July poll, which was called sooner that most had been expecting. 

Mr Craig went on to lose to the Conservatives in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich by more than 4,000 votes as Patrick Spencer was elected to the House of Commons.

The Gambling Commission investigated Mr Craig’s bet and took no further action. He is now campaigning for the introduction of stricter rules on election gambling.