candidate in bristol north west. it is not known when the bet was placed orfor how much money. ms saunders has been approached for comment by the bbc and has not replied. it comes as a police officer, working as part of the prime minister's close protection team, was suspended and later arrested — also over an alleged bet about when the general election would take place. our political correspondent, harry farley, reports. earlier today, i spoke with his majesty the king to request the dissolution of parliament. the king has granted this request and we will have a general election on the lith ofjuly. that announcement from the prime minister last month came as a surprise to many, including in his own party. now, the gambling commission says it's investigating possible offences relating to bets placed on the timing of the election. the use of insider information for an unfair advantage when betting can be a criminal offence. one of those being looked into by the watchdog is laura saunders. she has worked for the tories since 2015 and is being investigated for a bet she allegedly placed, although it's not known when or for how much money. ms saunders has not yet commented on the claims. hello, mr williams. last week, another conservative candidate and a former aide to the prime minister, craig williams, apologised and said he had made a huge error ofjudgment, after allegations he had placed a £100 bet on a july election three days before it was called. a conservative party spokesman told the bbc... these revelations come as a separate incident in which a police officer in the prime minister's close protection team was suspended and later arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office over alleged bets they made. the matter has also been referred to the independent office for police conduct. with just two weeks to go until polling day, it seems july the lith is a date which is still causing controversy for the conservative party. harry farley, bbc news, in westminster. secretary of state housing michael gove was asked this morning about the conservative candidate being looked into by the gambling commission.— looked into by the gambling commission. well, it is deeply regrettable — commission. well, it is deeply regrettable if _ commission. well, it is deeply regrettable if anyone - commission. well, it is deeply regrettable if anyone has - commission. well, it is deeply regrettable if anyone has been speculating, betting on the result of the election on the basis of inside information. but at the moment, we've got an investigation, a process going on. i think led by the gambling commission. and so we will have to wait to see what they conclude. but it certainly is, you know, pretty, what is the word? disappointing i think at least behaviour. nick eardley from bbc verify has been looking at some of the general election claims. the big thing is the green plan promises a lot more spending and a lot more tax. let's start with the spending. let's look at this list. 53 billion for health care. 30 billion for income support, billions more for education, transport, overseas aid. the plan amounts to a 160 billion a year extra in day—to—day spending. there is also 90 billion more a year from capital spending. the bulk of that on creating a greener economy. so a lot of money, a lot more than the other parties are promising. bearin the other parties are promising. bear in mind, labour promising about 10 billion of extra spending every year. this is a whole other level. next question, how to pay for it? here is a list the greens are providing. big increases as you can see in personal tax, much of it a new wealth tax which would be 1% in people with assets of more than £10 million, 2% on assets above £10 billion. the greens are hoping for a massive 91.3 billion through carbon taxes. taxes in this plan raising 172 billion extra in total every year. the greens also say they would allow themselves just under 80 billion in extra debt annually to fund some of their plans, too. there is no doubt this would be a massive change. but among the experts, there is some scepticism. the institute for fiscal studies says it is doubtful they could raise the 90 billion they want from carbon taxes. the ifs also reckons it will be tough to implement the big wealth tax the greens are planning. 0thers tax the greens are planning. others have said the plans don't include enough detail to assess properly. so from the greens, big plans come up with a big cost, also some big questions about whether it would all work. == questions about whether it would all work. , , ., , ., , questions about whether it would all work. , _, , ., , work. -- big plans with a big cost. nick eardley _ work. -- big plans with a big cost. nick eardley from _ work. -- big plans with a big cost. nick eardley from bbc _ work. -- big plans with a big cost. nick eardley from bbc verify. - work. -- big plans with a big cost. nick eardley from bbc verify. the | nick eardley from bbc verify. the question time special is happening in york. henry zeffman. i will talk to you later about the setup for the question time programme in a moment. these allegations around election bets are bound to feature. the conservative spokesman saying, let's see what the outcome of an investigation is, but is that going to wash given we are a couple of weeks away from the boat? it is certainly going to be a morning and afternoon and a day of very difficult questions for the conservatives and rishi sunak over this case —— the vote. the story was already extraordinary last night when chris mason revealed that a second conservative candidate laura saunders in bristol north west was being probed by the gambling commission over an allegation she placed a bet on the timing of the general election. but the disclosure in the last hour or so that she is married to a man called tony lee, the conservative party's director of campaigns, ithink the conservative party's director of campaigns, i think doesjust the conservative party's director of campaigns, i think does just give this significantly more political importance. if you can keep up to me yesterday, we also found out that a member of rishi sunak�*s close protection team, a metropolitan police officer, had been suspended andindeed police officer, had been suspended and indeed later arrested by the metropolitan police over allegations that that police officer had placed a bet and potentially committed misconduct in public office. i think the fact that that police officer was suspended by the met will pile questions onto rishi sunak over whether he should suspend the two conservative candidates from the conservative candidates from the conservative party while these investigations are ongoing. i think thatis investigations are ongoing. i think that is where the politics of the story is now going to go. find that is where the politics of the story is now going to go. and of course, story is now going to go. and of course. the _ story is now going to go. and of course, the story _ story is now going to go. and of course, the story could - story is now going to go. and of course, the story could well - story is now going to go. and of - course, the story could well feature tonight in the debate. tell is a bit more about how things are being set “p more about how things are being set up for the question time tonight and these questions from the studio audience —— tell us. these questions from the studio audience -- tell us.— these questions from the studio audience -- tell us. yes, talking of tou~h audience -- tell us. yes, talking of tough questions — audience -- tell us. yes, talking of tough questions for _ audience -- tell us. yes, talking of tough questions for rishi _ audience -- tell us. yes, talking of tough questions for rishi sunak, i tough questions for rishi sunak, tough questions for rishi sunak, tough questions forfour tough questions for rishi sunak, tough questions for four political leaders here at the university of york tonight. injust leaders here at the university of york tonight. in just over 11 hours' time, on this stage behind me, you will have rishi sunak, keir starmer, ed davey the leader of the liberal democrats and john swinney the leader of the scottish national party one by one facing half an hour of questioning from a live studio audience. i think it is a massive moment in this campaign because it is only two weeks to go until polling day, two weeks today and there are not a lot of set piece moments left. set piece moments where the candidates, the leaders can try to find a way to shake up the state of this race, to find new arguments to try to persuade the public notjust here in the auditorium, but at home to find new ways and new reasons to vote for them. and so that really amplifies them. and so that really amplifies the stakes here tonight, especially for the two men who might be prime minister onjuly the 5th, keir starmer or rishi sunak. minister on july the 5th, keir starmer or rishi sunak. henry, thank ou ve starmer or rishi sunak. henry, thank you very much- _ starmer or rishi sunak. henry, thank you very much. henry _ starmer or rishi sunak. henry, thank you very much. henry zeffman - starmer or rishi sunak. henry, thank you very much. henry zeffman in - you very much. henry zeffman in york. and this evening, fiona bruce is hosting a question time leaders' special with the leaders of the four biggest political parties in great britain. the two—hour special will be broadcast on bbc one, bbc iplayer and here on bbc news, with signing from 8 o'clock this evening. tom simons is travelling on the campaign bus at the moment. the party clearly or to talk about their theme for the day. ijust party clearly or to talk about their theme for the day. i just wonder party clearly or to talk about their theme for the day. ijust wonder how difficult it is going to be to amplify that and get out from under this conversation about alleged betting irregularities.— this conversation about alleged betting irregularities. well, i have been on this _ betting irregularities. well, i have been on this bus _ betting irregularities. well, i have been on this bus a _ betting irregularities. well, i have been on this bus a few— betting irregularities. well, i have been on this bus a few times - betting irregularities. well, i have been on this bus a few times and | betting irregularities. well, i have i been on this bus a few times and we have been here before, haven't we? only a couple of weeks ago, the conservatives were keen to talk about core messaging and they had to answer for the about core messaging and they had to answerfor the prime about core messaging and they had to answer for the prime minister puzzlement decision to come back early from d—day. and now we have this latest controversy about bets that appear to have been placed around the time the election was announced —— the prime minister's decision. i suspect when michael gove who we are following today on a visit to west london to housing developments, i suspect when he is asked about that, he will say there is an investigation going on at the gambling commission and he cannot say anything further. although i think he has said what has happened is, quote, regrettable. but when you have to start every interview with that sort of questioning, it is much more difficult. on housing, michael gove has been pushed this morning about his plans or the party's plans for building new houses. he has admitted on the today programme that, we haven't done as well as we should. i can hear a protest, it is possible somebody has picked up that the boss is here and senior politicians may be on board. but let's push on a little way. he has said the conservatives haven't done as well as they could on housing. he has blamed partly eu rules and also said labour won't match the conservatives's offer on stamp duty. they are offering an amnesty on stamp duty for first—time buyers of properties costing up to four and £25,000. and he said they may also reap value council tax bands, something that hasn't been done for something that hasn't been done for some decades. labour say they won't do that, but that is the battle line this morning drawn across the issue of housing. this morning drawn across the issue of housina. ., ., ~ ,, , of housing. tom, thank you very much, of housing. tom, thank you very much. tom _ of housing. tom, thank you very much, tom simons. _ of housing. tom, thank you very much, tom simons. and - of housing. tom, thank you very much, tom simons. and labour| of housing. tom, thank you very . much, tom simons. and labour are focusing their campaigning today on that issue, a key issue, housing. they say they will bring in extra protections for renters, cracking down on high rents and poor living conditions in the private rental sector. the liberal democrats are promising to invest £300 million in the next parliament to fill 1.2 million potholes a year. the party says money in the existing roads budget will be re—directed to local councils. as we count down to election day, we're speaking to people across the uk to find out what's important to them, and what might win their vote next month. we're in constituencies all over the country, and today, we're in plymouth sutton and devonport. which is where we find our roaming correspondent, nicky schiller. another beautiful day and another glorious backdrop for your conversations with voters. absolutely, aren't i the lucky one? we are in plymouth in devon. this is quite a famous part of plymouth. it is the home. if you know your history, sir francis drake was playing a game of bowls when the spanish armada was spotted in the english channel and he is said to have insisted on carrying on with his game of bowls. he did of course go on to defeat the spanish fleet. interestingly, he didn't win his game of bowls here in plymouth. we are out and about as you said looking at some of the issues that matter to people as we get towards the general election. the bbc audiences team is part of your voice, your vote, has been listening to what you want us to talk about and time and time again, the top issueis and time and time again, the top issue is the cost of living, which issue is the cost of living, which is why we are in the city. i am being ——i is why we are in the city. i am being —— i amjoined by miles is why we are in the city. i am being —— i am joined by miles davis. when it comes to the cost of living, the city, it is a tale of two cities. �* , ,., , ., , the city, it is a tale of two cities. �* , , .,, i. the city, it is a tale of two cities. , , the city, it is a tale of two cities. , , cities. absolutely, as you can see, it is an incredibly _ cities. absolutely, as you can see, it is an incredibly beautiful- it is an incredibly beautiful location here. there are some very affluent areas in plymouth, but there are also some pockets of real deprivation, where you have some wards in the top 10% and even the top 1% of the most deprived places and that is in the country. and you can really see that. i was talking to somebody from a charity that gives food to food banks and says demand hasjust gives food to food banks and says demand has just gone up and gives food to food banks and says demand hasjust gone up and up. it said the sort of problems he is seeing now, he feels might take a generation to fix. i seeing now, he feels might take a generation to fix.— generation to fix. i was born in devon so _ generation to fix. i was born in devon so i _ generation to fix. i was born in devon so i know the _ generation to fix. i was born in devon so i know the area - generation to fix. i was born in devon so i know the area quite generation to fix. i was born in - devon so i know the area quite well on the one thing i always remember as a child is the naval port devonport and it is a huge employer. we have devonport, the largest naval port in western europe. we have the commandos being housed here. there is babcock which is also a huge employer come up with the refurbishment and dealing with the nuclear submarines as well. it has a huge impact on the city. we nuclear submarines as well. it has a huge impact on the city.— huge impact on the city. we talked about it being _ huge impact on the city. we talked about it being a _ huge impact on the city. we talked about it being a tale _ huge impact on the city. we talked about it being a tale of— huge impact on the city. we talked about it being a tale of two - huge impact on the city. we talked about it being a tale of two citiesl about it being a tale of two cities when it comes cost of living, also politically. when it comes cost of living, also oliticall . ~ , when it comes cost of living, also politically-— politically. absolutely. the city can move _ politically. absolutely. the city can move between _ politically. absolutely. the city can move between labour- politically. absolutely. the city can move between labour and| can move between labour and conservative. at the moment, we are hearing in devonport this morning —— here in devonport, in the constituency of what was luke pollard the labour mp. and further north, you have the plymouth moor view constituency, which was held by johnny mercer, the veterans mp. luke pollard is ahead at the moment in the polls. johnny mercer looks like he is facing a very tough challenge, he is facing a very tough challenge, he is facing a very tough challenge, he is a former army captain and is facing a challenge from fred thomas, the labour candidate, a former royal marine who looks to be pressing him very hard. so they will have a tough battle between them onjuly 4th. fin battle between them onjuly 4th. on devolution is an interesting issue here in the city.— devolution is an interesting issue here in the city. absolutely, there was devolution _ here in the city. absolutely, there was devolution deal _ here in the city. absolutely, there was devolution deal on _ here in the city. absolutely, there was devolution deal on the - here in the city. absolutely, there was devolution deal on the table i here in the city. absolutely, there l was devolution deal on the table for devon. plymouth is a labour—run council. the other two councils, torbay and devon county, went pressing ahead with the devolution deal, but plymouth opted out. the feeling that we are getting now is if there is a labour government coming in injuly, it could be that plymouth city council ops back in to have a labour—controlled council, we would have a lot more faith in the labour government pressing ahead with the devolution they have promised, which could mean quite a substantial investment for the city. miles will be with us throughout the day. you can see behind me sweet stour, 72 feet and 93 steps, i haven't been picked, but it has a connection to the election. back in the suffragettes campaigning for a vote for women place a home—made bomb at the bottom of this tower. it didn't go off because the british weather intervened. a cost of wind blew out the fuse. i am going to head towards a cafe later because i need some coffee. i will talk to some of the people there about the issue of cost of living here in the city. great to get the snippets of history as well as all the political chat. thank you so much. we will see you later. you'll be able to see a list of all the candidates standing in plymouth sutton and devonport at this general election on your screen 110w. and you can see a list of all the candidates standing in all the constituencies across the country on the bbc news website. put in your postcode to see the candidates in your constituency. we were talking about the question time special in york where the leaders of the four biggest parties in great britain will face questions from an audience. so wha