Democracy is Not a Casino

Why the Betting Scandal Must Be a Turning Point for Public Trust

When it was revealed that a close aide to the Prime Minister had placed a bet on the date of the 2024 general election just days before it was announced, the public response was swift and furious. What began with a single Conservative MP quickly spiralled into a web of allegations involving campaign staff, police officers, and party officials. Fifteen individuals now face criminal charges. But beyond the legal drama and political fallout lies a far deeper issue. This scandal has laid bare a sickness in the culture of British politics: a system where politcal power fuels games for insiders, not effective governance for the public.

The sums involved were relatively modest. A hundred pounds here, a few hundred there. But the symbolism was staggering. These were people with privileged access, betting on a decision not yet public, hoping to cash in on their inside knowledge. What does that say to ordinary voters? That politics isn’t about public service or national duty, but about private gain and secret advantage. And in a country already grappling with widespread disillusionment in politics, that perception is corrosive.

This wasn’t just a lapse in judgment by a few individuals. It was a product of a political system that has lost its moral compass. A system where MPs are not explicitly barred from gambling on election outcomes - only from exploiting insider knowledge to do so - where campaign staff and even police officers saw no problem with placing bets on decisions made behind closed doors. Where the first instinct, when the story broke, was to dismiss it as a "personal matter" until public outrage forced a response.

We must not treat this as a one-off, as the actions of some exceptional 'bad apples'. Because the truth is, the scandal didn’t come out of nowhere. It came from a culture in Westminster that has, over time, become far too comfortable with blurred lines, private advantage, and a lack of accountability.

Trust in democracy rests on the belief that everyone plays by the same rules. That principle was further undermined when those closest to power gambled - literally - on the timing of the nation’s vote. It confirmed what many people already fear: that those at the top treat politics like a private club, not a public service. For some voters, especially younger and disengaged citizens, this scandal will have confirmed their worst suspicions - that democracy is a rigged game, stacked in favour of those who already have power and connections.

At Open Britain, we have a different vision for democracy. In our world, Democracy must be open, transparent, and accountable. It must serve ordinary people, not just those with wealth and ready access to power. And it must be based on the idea that those in power are there to serve, not to profit. That’s why we say this scandal must be a turning point. Because if this moment doesn’t lead to change, we risk losing even more of the little public faith that remains.

So what needs to happen now?

First, there must be clear rules prohibiting MPs, candidates, political staff, and civil servants from betting on political outcomes. It should be unthinkable that someone in a position of power could profit from inside knowledge of a public decision. The rules in financial markets are clear: insider trading is illegal. Politics should be no different.

Second, we need greater transparency and accountability within political parties themselves. This scandal revealed just how many individuals in senior campaign positions had access to sensitive decisions without adequate safeguards. Political parties can no longer afford to be complacent. They must acknowledge the risks such actions pose to public trust in politics and put in place robust procedures to prohibit unethical behaviour, with meaningful consequences for those who break the rules. It is no longer acceptable to assume that everyone in a position of privilege will always act with integrity. Systems must be designed to ensure they do.

Third, this is a wake-up call for deeper democratic reform. The fact that a Prime Minister can unilaterally call a snap election without any kind of scrutiny is an invitation for misuse. Gaming the date of something as important as a general election so that he/she derives maximum political benefit just reinforces the public perception that those in power are playing some kind of game with their lives. A modern democracy deserves (a return to) fixed-term parliaments or, at the very least, a transparent mechanism for determining election timing. The point is not some arcane procedural change. It is fairness.

Finally, we must rebuild public trust not just through rules, but through example. That means political leaders who model integrity. It means swift and meaningful consequences for those who fall short. And it means educating and empowering citizens to understand their democratic rights and demand better.

Because democracy is not a casino. It is not a game for insiders. It is the means by which we, the public, choose our future. And when that process is treated with contempt by those entrusted to serve, it weakens the very foundations of our society.

This scandal has already done its damage. But it could yet bring a moment of positive reckoning. A moment to say: enough. To draw a clear line between public duty and private advantage. To restore the basic idea that elections are not opportunities to profit, but moments to refresh the social contract with the public.

If politicians want people to believe in democracy again, they must show that those in power believe in it too. They have a choice now: they can choose to shrug and move on, or they can choose to fix this issue. Whatever they choose, we must hold them to account for their decision.