Full Marx for the Tories and is it time to back Southgate?

Tory aide Craig Williams told the BBC his election bet was ‘huge error of judgement’ (Picture: Matthew Horwood/Getty Images)

In MetroTalk, readers discuss a gambling scandal involving two Tory candidates, an aide, and a security team member, all under investigation for betting on the election.

One commenter suggests this is a familiar pattern, questioning if it’s another nail in the coffin for the Tory party.

Meanwhile, should we be more concerned about the alliance between Russia, North Korea, China and Iran? And, readers share why they’re backing Southgate.

Share your thoughts on these topics and more in the comments.

Dodgy Tory bets

Is there no limit to Tory greed? Hot on the heels of Tory adviser Craig Williams being investigated for dodgy betting on the election date, the Tory campaign director, Tony Lee, has gone on leave although there are two weeks left until the election (Metro, Fri).

Allegedly his wife, Laura Saunders, standing in Bristol North West, is also under investigation by the gambling commission for betting irregularities. Do they not realise gambling markets are monitored for criminality? Robert Boston, Kent

Should Rishi have waited to call an election? (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

The Tory betting fiasco (MetroTalk. Fri) is just another nail in the party’s coffin. Who in their right mind would call an election when their party has been 20 points behind in the polls for two years? The answer is: Rishi Sunak! Scott, West London

The real story behind the petty fuss made over bets placed on the election date is bookmakers being allowed to take bets on events decided by people and not sporting chance. The same bookies are outrageously allowed to restrict winning punter’s stakes or ban them outright – so where is the scandal please? Nick, Luton

England fans don’t focus on the positives

Who would be an England player? Scotland lose their first game and drew their second. Not a boo from fans in the stadium and the Scots remain positive. England win their first game and tie the second, and get booed by their fans and battered by pundits and press. They are obviously through to the next round so concentrate on the positives, surely?

Most fans in the stadiums cheer their teams, winning or losing, but not the England fans. Cheer them on when they are not doing well, which may give them the zing to push forward. Corin, London

Should fans give Gareth Southgate some credit? (Picture: Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

I completely disagree with Andree’s view that Gareth Southgate is a poor England coach (Metro, Thu). Far from criticising him, we should be celebrating him.

I cannot remember any England manager in my lifetime producing an England team that has been so competitive over the course of several tournaments in succession.

A huge part of that is due to the togetherness and amazing team spirit that Southgate has fostered. Before anyone dismisses that as only being due to an exceptional group of players, they should remember the very average tournament performances of the Golden Generation under supposedly superior coaches such as Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello. Barry, Hornchurch

Should we worry about Putin’s alliances?

The close alliance between Russia, China, North Korea and Iran should concern all of us. Those totalitarian regimes pose an existential threat to the democratic freedoms enjoyed by Western nations.

The best way of standing up to the increasingly aggressive rhetoric of those dictatorial states is to ensure that Nato’s military capabilities are a match for theirs. The defence budgets of Nato countries must be protected, preferably even increased, to meet those potential threats – including cyber attacks on the UK’s and other countries’ infrastructure facilities.

That’s the best deterrent we have. The United Kingdom and its Nato allies must be ready and prepared to challenge any such threat, in the most robust way possible. Al, Charlton