Salmond accuses Tories of ‘buying’ election

THERESA May’s Conservatives should not be allowed to “buy” the 2017 General Election, having successfully bought the 2015 one, Alex Salmond has claimed.

The former First Minister’s comments came after he raised concerns about the police’s probe into Tory election expenses in the Commons.

Channel 4 News said at least 30 Tory MPs and agents had been subject to reports to the Crown Prosecution Service in England over allegations of breaking electoral law. It has also been suggested the prosecution authorities have to report on the matter between May 20 and early June.

Referring to those under investigation, Mr Salmond told MPs news coverage of reports into their election expenses would have implications for some General Election candidates.

He added it would be a “scandal of enormous proportions” if there was any attempt to “influence the timing of any such reports”.

The MP for Gordon said: “Provision has surely been made as to how to cope with such an eventuality if it occurs during an election campaign.”

He added: “Given that the Prime Minister has decided to reappoint all of the campaign team, who have already been fined by the election commission, responsible for that bourach, we cannot get ourselves into a position of that campaign team, up to and including Lynton Crosby, having successfully bought one election are allowed to buy another.”

John Bercow, the Speaker, said: “What the police and CPS do and when is a matter for them. Members with views on these matters can express views. I will not.”