London: A second senior Conservative official has stood aside amid an election betting scandal that has engulfed Britain’s ruling party just two weeks from polling day.

Nick Mason, the Tories’ chief data officer, has taken a leave of absence from his role 11 days from the July 4 election as the regulator probes his possible use of privileged information to bet on the vote, several British media outlets reported.

The betting scandal has dealt a heavy blow to the Conservatives as they battle to revive its struggling campaign ahead of the vote. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing severe criticism over his handling of the saga, as calls grow for him to suspend party figures who are being probed by the Gambling Commission.

The revelation was first reported by The Sunday Times which claimed dozens of bets had been placed with potential winnings worth thousands of pounds. The watchdog was also reported to have widened its inquiries to investigate whether people with inside knowledge may have asked a third party to place a bet for them.

Three Tory party members are already under investigation: Craig Williams, Sunak’s closest parliamentary aide; Laura Saunders, a party staffer; and her husband, Tory campaign director Tony Lee. Of those, Williams and Saunders are still standing as candidates in the general election.

An unnamed police officer working as part of Sunak’s protection team was also arrested last week over “alleged bets” made on the election.

Investigators have written to leading bookmakers asking for details of bets of £20 or more on the election date within days of Sunak announcing it on May 22.

A spokesman for Mason said that it would be inappropriate to comment during an investigation, but he denied wrongdoing.