Former Labour candidate Kevin Craig has spoken of his devastation at being "brutally" suspended from campaigning in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich (CSNI) over the betting scandal.

But he is determined to clear his name when the Gambling Commission considers his case over the next few weeks.

He was suspended by Labour after it emerged that he had put a bet on himself to lose the election in the constituency - which is being investigated by the Commission.

Speaking exclusively to this newspaper, he said: "Since June 25 I have not slept properly.  I am heartbroken and truly devastated at what has happened. 

"I will be forever grateful to those locally, and my friends and family for how they have looked after me and supported me of late.

"The people I think about every day currently are those in CSNI who votes were changed or not cast as a result of what happened, as well as the incredible local Labour Party members.

"12 nights ago we were on the edge of making history in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich.

"As well as putting in a huge shift of work in Jack Abbott’s seat next door, I had had the privilege of leading an amazing campaign which stretched across the whole CSNI constituency.  It was a historic once in a generation opportunity.

"We had spoken to thousands of people. I had celebrity endorsements and big political figure endorsements about to come out for the final nine days.  

"I was working incredibly hard and every day meeting more inspirational local people who were ready to vote in a Labour MP here for the first time in history.  

"We were on course to win here and to be part of the change our country is about to experience.

"Then came my brutal suspension.  It was the most shocking and devastating thing to happen in 30 years membership of the Labour Party and in public life. 

"Despite the subsequent 72 hours of catastrophically bad local and national PR, the online fall out, and being prevented from that moment on from doing any more campaigning in CSNI for the nine days until polling day, we still achieved an incredible result here.

"I get very upset thinking of what might have been.  To not be permitted to attend my own count as a Labour candidate has hurt me very much.

"Over the coming weeks, I expect to be totally and utterly exonerated of any wrongdoing by all the parties involved in this.  

"Full investigations will clear me of any wrongdoing. Knowing that I am totally innocent of any illegality or wrongdoing makes the election result in CSNI all the more heart-breaking.  

"And again, most of all, I want to say sorry to the people of CSNI that this happened and thank you to those helping me cope with its fallout."

Patrick Spencer is the new MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich.Patrick Spencer is the new MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich. (Image: Paul Geater)

New MP Patrick Spencer, who won CSNI with a majority of 4,290 for the Conservatives, felt that Mr Craig's suspension was not the main factor in the result.

He said: "This is a seat that the Conservatives would expect to win. What is significant is the high vote for Reform UK. That is something that needs to be addressed."

Reform UK's candidate Tony Gould, a former Conservative member of Ipswich Borough Council, won 8,809 votes.

Mr Spencer's majority was the largest for the Tories in Suffolk this time around - a sharp contrast to 2019 when the party was winning by margins of 23,000 votes.

The "safest" seat in Suffolk is now Ipswich where Jack Abbott won by 7,313 votes - but in numerical terms every constituency in the county looks marginal in a new volatile political atmosphere.

Full result in Central Suffolk and North Ipswich:

Patrick Spencer (C) – 15,144

Kevin Craig (Formerly L) – 10,854

Tony Gould (RUK) – 8,806

Daniel Pratt (G) – 5,652

Brett Mickelburgh (LD) – 5,407

Charlie Caiger (I) – 366

Mike Hallatt (I) – 194

Majority: 4,290

Turnout: 63.5%