begins in an hour. we will look at that in some detail. and we will take a closer look as more and more journalists arrive. the bbc has learned that the conservative party's director of campaigning is being looked into by the gambling commission over an alleged bet on the timing of the general election. tony lee, and his wife laura sanders — who is the party's candidate in bristol north west — are both being looked into. this morning it emerged that mr lee has taken a leave of absence from his job, and left the campaign yesterday. our political correspondent helen catt has the latest. we will have a general election on the 4th ofjuly. july elections are a rarity. now, the gambling commission is looking into some of the bets that were placed on one being called. the use of confidential information in orderto gain an unfair advantage when betting may be a criminal offense. we now know that among those being looked into are tony lee, who's the conservative party's director of campaigning, and his wife, laura saunders, who's a candidate. mr lee took a leave of absence from his job yesterday. both mrs saunders and mr lee have been approached for comment, but haven't replied. this will be a two—bedroom apartment? correct, yes. on a visit earlier, the housing secretary, michael gove, admitted it didn't look good. it's quite properly being investigated now. how does it look? well, as i say, you and others looking at this will, i'm sure, be doing much more thanjust raising an eyebrow. but it's important for me and for all the candidates out there that while we acknowledge that this is not great, that we concentrate on the real issues in this campaign. keir, nice to see you. labour says it's not good enough, and wants action taken. this candidate should be suspended, and it's very telling that rishi sunak has not already done that. if it was one of my candidates, they'd be gone and their feet would not have touched the floor. there's a wider point here that you touch on, which is we've now had 14 years of chaos, of division, of politics, being about self—entitlement, and politics needs to be about service — about public service. the liberal democrats also want to see a firm hand. we think there should be a cabinet office inquiry. i i think the gambling commission will rightly look at this, _ and i hope they come down heavy | on those people who look like — i i haven't seen the details — but they look like they've acted illegally and immorally. - earlier this month, craig williams, another candidate, and formerly the prime minister's parliamentary aide, admitted he'd placed a bet on the election date and apologised. did you have any inside information when you made the bet? i clearly made a huge error ofjudgment. he's being looked into, too. yesterday, one of rishi sunak�*s police close protection officers was arrested over alleged bets on the election date. a spokesman for the conservative party said the gambling commission had contacted it about a small number of individuals. as more details emerge, the pressure on rishi sunak to take action is only likely to grow. helen catt, bbc news, westminster. joining me is our political correspondent alex forsyth. a couple of statements on this story. a couple of statements on this sto . , ., .., ., a couple of statements on this sto . , ., ., ., ., story. the first one came from laura saunders, story. the first one came from laura saunders. you _ story. the first one came from laura saunders, you heard _ story. the first one came from laura saunders, you heard referenced. - story. the first one came from laura| saunders, you heard referenced. "as the conservative party stated, those investigations are ongoing and ms. saunders will cooperate and it's inappropriate to conduct this via the media. the publication of the bbc story is premature and is a clear infringement of ms. saunders's privacy, and she is considering legal action against the bbc." in the last five minutes, we had a statement from the bbc, responding. that statement says, "we are confident in ourjournalism. as laura sanders is a candidate, it's clearly in the public interest to report allegations made against her." i suspect it has got a bit of a way. figs her." i suspect it has got a bit of a wa . �* , , her." i suspect it has got a bit of awa.n , her." i suspect it has got a bit of awa. , a way. as this plays out, this wouldn't _ a way. as this plays out, this wouldn't be _ a way. as this plays out, this wouldn't be what _ a way. as this plays out, this wouldn't be what the - a way. as this plays out, this - wouldn't be what the conservative party would choose to be dominating the headlines ahead of this debate. it's a very last thing because whatever you make of the issue is crowding out whatever is the party with —— would want to be talking about. i suspect as rishi sunak comes for this question time leaders' special this evening, he will want to talk about the claims the party has been making about labour's tax policy. he the party has been making about labour's tax policy.— the party has been making about labour's tax policy. he can't choose entirely what _ labour's tax policy. he can't choose entirely what he's _ labour's tax policy. he can't choose entirely what he's going _ labour's tax policy. he can't choose entirely what he's going to talk- entirely what he's going to talk about because not all the questions are coming from journalists and politicians, but the audience. the? politicians, but the audience. they are often the _ politicians, but the audience. they are often the best _ politicians, but the audience. they are often the best to _ politicians, but the audience. tie: are often the best to ask politicians, but the audience. tie are often the best to ask questions, because they know about the issues that matter to them. the questions come from the audience and the host, fiona bruce, will moderate. i suspect we will hear things about the economy and public services. all of those themes that have really played big. the reason these events are such high stakes for the parties is because i think it is harderfor a politician to dodge a direct question from the member of the public. they are directly being scrutinised by the people they're asking to vote for them and i think there's a real powerfrom an audience for them and i think there's a real power from an audience perspective. we have seen this could prove from the moments. you we have seen this could prove from the moments-_ the moments. you present any questions — the moments. you present any questions every _ the moments. you present any questions every week. - the moments. you present any questions every week. what i the moments. you present any i questions every week. what have we've been hearing about the issues have mattered most? what we've been hearing about the issues have mattered most?— have mattered most? what the audience often _ have mattered most? what the audience often want _ have mattered most? what the audience often want to - have mattered most? what the audience often want to hear- have mattered most? what the i audience often want to hear about have mattered most? what the - audience often want to hear about is often what the politicians don't want to talk about. and one was specifically about public social character. and i think it's the thing that people expense of their day—to—day lights, people want to know what people are going to do, and that's not always in line with the westminster agenda parties. the power is in the audience's hands to force the campaign onto the territory that they think is important. and that really matters. alex, thank you very much indeed. we are here in the spin room. lots of different organisations are here, getting ready for this. let's learn a bit more about where this will take place. earlier, i paid a visit. this is where the bbc�*s question time leader special is going to be taking place at the university of york. you can see where the audience is going to be sitting. over 160 people are going to be putting their questions to first, sir ed davey from the liberal democrats, thenjohn sweeney from the snp, then sir keir starmer from the labour party, and then the prime minister, rishi sunak, they are going to stand just here. the host of the question time leaders' special, fiona bruce, will be standing just here. now let's speak to the deputy ceo of bbc news, jonathan munro, who is integrally involved in organising all of this. hi, jonathan. thanks for speaking to us. well, i think the audience has got a number of questions about how this works. first of all, how do you settle on the fact that it's four leaders who are coming this evening? so, we have a pretty sophisticated way of looking at which party deserves more scrutiny and peak time than smaller parties. and in this election, because the polls have been moving a little bit, largely edging a little bit up on the reform front and down on the parties, we're having three of these programmes. so, this is the main one, the big two—hour one with the four party leaders you've already named. and next friday, we'll have both the reform and the green party in a similarform at a different venue. we're down in the midlands for that one. and then viewers in wales will also be able to see a version with the plaid cymru leader, and that's running in wales on bbc1 channel, wales, but also on the bbc news and if that's how you're organising, who's answering the questions? who's asking them? so, the audience here are the key to making question time work. people will be familiar with the regular format follow—up and some interrogation from fiona. but this is the format where the questioners themselves here at the university of york are able to get their teeth stuck into the issues they care about. so, we don't set them, i don't set them. the production team who are behind the scenes don't set them. these guys set them. but how do you make sure, first of all, the make—up of the audience is a fair representation of the country and then make sure the questions they ask are also a fair representation of the things people are most concerned about? well, on the audience, what question time do every single week and this week is no different, is to come up with an audience which, broadly speaking, so, people in the audience will be supporting each of these parties. every leader knows that somewhere in the audience there's some people who will support their policies, and a lot of people, of course, who won't. and that means in the case of this programme, we've brought some of the audience in from scotland because snp supporters obviously don't reside around york. so, that's the audience themselves. on the questions, they give us the questions in advance, they've emailed them in, they'll put them on postcards when they arrive in the building — we'll choose. and we'll choose the ones that resonate most with the big issues, but we'll also choose ones that are pertinent to the individual leader. this isn't a debate between people on the stage because they know what attack lines are going to be against each other. this is the question that goes to the heart of what they're like as a leader. well, you emphasise the fact they're not going to be on stage together. each is going to get half an hour. i'm curious about the choreography. or do they come in and leave quite separately? well, they make their own arrangements and we facilitate however they want to do it. well, they make their own arrangements and they facilitate however they want to do it. we've already had a few of them looking at the set today, just making themselves comfortable with the staging and the lighting and the sound systems, those sorts of things, because this is a really big moment, right? this is this format is the format where the magic money tree came on theresa may's... that was actually here. by the audience, saying that get people couldn't get a doctor's appointment whenever they rang the surgery. and you might remember it's where ed miliband stumbled off the stage and that made news. so, there's a lot of nerves about this. so, they've come in, they've had a look, they've got themselves familiar with the environment, but it's much different when the buzz and the adrenaline of the audience are here. we arejoined by we are joined by the snp we arejoined by the snp campaign to director. what are you doing at this stage? i5 director. what are you doing at this state? , . director. what are you doing at this stae? , ., ., 4' director. what are you doing at this state? , ., ., ~ ., stage? is all the work done, in terms of tonight. _ stage? is all the work done, in terms of tonight. in _ stage? is all the work done, in terms of tonight. in one - stage? is all the work done, in | terms of tonight. in one sense, stage? is all the work done, in - terms of tonight. in one sense, we have an easy pitch. we are saying no to austerity, so it's pretty straightforward. other parties have said that, but in terms of getting — other parties have said that, but in terms of getting votes, _ other parties have said that, but in terms of getting votes, what - other parties have said that, but in terms of getting votes, what will i terms of getting votes, what will you be doing? you can't necessarily talk about all of your policies. you do, and i would _ talk about all of your policies. tm. do, and i would be surprised that john doesn't go for that one. significant investment. we're talking about stuff that helps the hardest hit by cost of living. [30 hardest hit by cost of living. do ou hardest hit by cost of living. do you think this is an opportunity or merely another apartment a moment and the campaign —— important moment in the campaign? we and the campaign -- important moment in the campaign?— in the campaign? we are very lucky. the snp is a — in the campaign? we are very lucky. the snp is a massive _ in the campaign? we are very lucky. the snp is a massive party. - in the campaign? we are very lucky. the snp is a massive party. we - in the campaign? we are very lucky. | the snp is a massive party. we have more members than any other party combined. i will work on the ground. when we get into this sort of campaign, everybody gets equal coverage. of course the good opportunity to make a pitch. it’s opportunity to make a pitch. it's been a tumultuous few months. do you think some people might want to ask about that? i think some people might want to ask about that? ., ., ., ., , about that? i have no idea what they would be. about that? i have no idea what they would be- it — about that? i have no idea what they would be. it would _ about that? i have no idea what they would be. it would be wrong - about that? i have no idea what they would be. it would be wrong to - would be. it would be wrong to say we didn't take a dunk. and we've actually overtaken labour. and that's exactly what we are doing. in terms of expectations of this evening, the in fact, whenjohn swinney walks offstage, what is your definition of success? i did swinney walks offstage, what is your definition of success?— definition of success? i did debate like this answers _ definition of success? i did debate like this answers questions - like this answers questions honestly, get the key messages across. john being john, demonstrate the density of the man. i think he comes across as himself, he basically gets to win. i appreciate ou basically gets to win. i appreciate you speaking _ basically gets to win. i appreciate you speaking to _ basically gets to win. i appreciate you speaking to us. _ basically gets to win. i appreciate you speaking to us. just - basically gets to win. i appreciate you speaking to us. just remind l basically gets to win. i appreciate . you speaking to us. just remind you, john sweeney is in the second half hour. first up is sir ed davey from the liberal third is sir keir starmer and the final half—hour will be the prime minister, rishi sunak. let's bring in baroness aisha hazarikah. when you are sitting down at the beginning of the campaign, would you have picked out these tv moments as being one of the more significant? i moments as being one of the more siunificant? ~ moments as being one of the more significant?— significant? i think we were very aware that _ significant? i think we were very aware that these _ significant? i think we were very aware that these tv _ significant? i think we were very aware that these tv events - significant? i think we were very| aware that these tv events were going to punctuate the campaign and actually provide a bit of structure for the campaign. notjust for a for the campaign. not just for a moment for the campaign. notjust for a moment to sign, because that's what everyone hopes their boss will do —— shine, but also as a moment of jeopardy. it is often these debates where things can go wrong for politicians when they can be challenge by members of the public. tv debates are quite a new event, and the first time we have the more head—to—head was back in 2010. actually, it's quite difficult for a political leader to really shine in one of these events. more often as the team behind the leader, you try to insulate and make sure there's no gaffe. you come in really well prepared, you do something where you basically go through every single tough question that can come up. you want to make sure that your man or woman is as well prepared as possible. if they do have a moment where they do brilliantly, that is fantastic. more importantly, you want to make sure they don't make news for the wrong reasons. i wonder if that's a particular _ news for the wrong reasons. i wonder if that's a particular focus _ news for the wrong reasons. i wonder if that's a particular focus for - news for the wrong reasons. i wonder if that's a particular focus for sir - if that's a particular focus for sir keir starmer. if we look at the bbc�*s hold tracker, it's been giving labour a significant lead. given that the case, if you are advising him, it would be almost defensive — saying the main thing we want to achieve is that we don't change too much. , , . , achieve is that we don't change too much. , , ., , ., achieve is that we don't change too much. ,, ., , ., .,~ much. this strategy that people talk about with labour _ much. this strategy that people talk about with labour being _ much. this strategy that people talk about with labour being quite - much. this strategy that people talk about with labour being quite cost l about with labour being quite cost is — and you can understand that if you are doing very well, you don't want to take too many risks. you don't want to open yourself up to hostages. also, it's worth reminding people it's unusual for the hostages. also, it's worth reminding people it's unusualfor the labour party to win elections in this country. they did really, really badly in 2019, which was not a long time ago. in the last few years, only six labour prime ministers have made it. since 2010, there's been five conservative mps. —— prime ministers. keir starmer�*s team understandably do want to be quite defensive and they don't want to make any late game errors or make any mistakes in these final two weeks. however, his team also be aware that you want to come across with authority, he wants to convene that he who as a vision for the public. one thing his aware of is a lot of people are really disillusioned in politics at the moment. i don't think if there's a change in government, will that change in government, will that change their lives for the better. i think one message i was thinking about is getting hope and trying to send a message and communicate with the audience that changes notjust a change for him getting into downing street. he will work hard to change their lives better. i think