The Work and Pensions Secretary, Mel Stride has defended the prime minister’s handling of the gambling scandal, insisting he took “very decisive action” against two candidates being looked into by the Gambling Commission.

Speaking to the Today programme, he says: “In the event that the commission does decide that rules have been broken, they will be expelled from the Conservative Party. So we will have no truck with any of this.”

Yesterday, the Conservatives withdrew support from two of their candidates, Laura Saunders and Craig Williams, almost two weeks after Williams, a close aide to Rishi Sunak, admitted placing a bet on the election date.

Mel Stride rejects suggestions that the prime minister has been “muddling through” and says it takes time to get the facts.

He says it isn’t unreasonable for inquiries to be held when allegations emerged.

Stride defended the Scottish Secretary, Alister Jack, who, he says, has not broken the rules in placing bets earlier in the year.

The Work and Pensions Secretary says he didn’t bet on anything – “I’m rather boring”.

His Labour shadow, Liz Kendall says Sir Keir Starmer took clear action after the Gambling Commission said it was looking at one of the party’s candidates.

She tells Today: “I think the public want politicians to abide by the rules just as they have to. We’re not against gambling but it must be done within the rules.”