in cold blood essay

In Cold Blood

Truman capote, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Truman Capote's In Cold Blood . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

In Cold Blood: Introduction

In cold blood: plot summary, in cold blood: detailed summary & analysis, in cold blood: themes, in cold blood: quotes, in cold blood: characters, in cold blood: symbols, in cold blood: theme wheel, brief biography of truman capote.

Historical Context of In Cold Blood

Other books related to in cold blood.

• Full Title: In Cold Blood
• When Written: 1959-1964
• Where Written: USA
• When Published: 1966
• Literary Period: Postmodern
• Genre: Novel/True Crime
• Setting: Holcomb, Kansas
• Climax: Dick Hickok and Perry Smith are captured in Las Vegas
• Point of View: Third person omniscient

Extra Credit for In Cold Blood

Party Animal: In November 1966, Capote threw The Black and White Ball, which became one of the most infamous parties of the sixties.

Picture This: Much of the uproar over Capote’s 1948 debut Other Voices, Other Rooms had less to do with the contents of the book and more to do with his author photograph. Taken by Harold Halma, the photograph depicts a young Capote on a chaise lounge, shooting the camera an outrageous come-hither stare.

In Cold Blood

88 pages • 2 hours read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Key Figures

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Discuss the idea of In Cold Blood as a “non-fiction novel.” To what extent can it be read purely as literature (rather than as journalism), and what are the implications of reading it that way?

The final scene in the novel—Dewey’s chance meeting with Sue Kidwell—is one Capote allegedly fabricated. Discuss the significance of this scene—or another fictional scene of your choosing—to the work as a whole. Is Capote justified in including it, despite branding his book as a work of nonfiction?

Late in the novel, Capote describes Dick and Perry as “uncongenial but helpless Siamese twins” (366). How do you understand the relationship between Dick and Perry? What does each man get out of it, and why do they choose to stick together despite their differences?

Don't Miss Out!

Access Study Guide Now

Related Titles

By Truman Capote

A Christmas Memory

Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Children on Their Birthdays

Other Voices, Other Rooms

The Grass Harp

Featured Collections

American Literature

View Collection

Banned Books Week

Good & Evil

• Entertainment
• Environment
• Information Science and Technology
• Social Issues

Home Essay Samples Literature In Cold Blood

In Cold Blood: The American Dream in Truman Capote's Novel

Table of contents

Introduction, in cold blood: the theme of american dream.

“I had to get down on my knees. And just then it was like I was outside myself. Watching myself in some nutty movie. It made me sick. I was just disgusted. Dick, and all his talk about a rich man's safe, and here I am crawling on my belly to steal a child's silver dollar. One dollar. And I'm crawling on my belly to get it.”

“Everything Herb had, he earned - with the help of God. He was a modest man but a proud man as he had a right to be. He raised a fine family. He made something of his life.” But that life, and what he'd made of it - how it could happen, Erhart wondered as he watched the bonfire catch. How was it possible that such effort, such plain virtue, could overnight be reduced to this - smoke, thinning as it rose and was received by the big, annihilating sky?”

• Capote, T. (1966). In Cold Blood. Random House.
• Cochran, M. (2017). The American Dream in In Cold Blood. Masters of Arts Thesis, Georgia State University.
• Doss, E. (2015). "You don't understand": Cold Blood as an American Tragedy. Journal of American Culture, 38(4), 441-453.
• Miksanek, T. (2018). Killer Titles: Symbolism in Capote's In Cold Blood. Journal of American Culture, 41(2), 129-139.
• Nance, R. (2014). In Cold Blood: Truman Capote's Search for Meaningful Answers. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Research, 2(1), 49-56.
• Parks, J. (2009). Truman Capote and the Legacy of "In Cold Blood". The Journal of Popular Culture, 42(6), 1076-1091.
• Plemons, J. (2016). Truman Capote's In Cold Blood: The Intersection of Literary Techniques and Film. Masters of Arts Thesis, Texas Tech University.
• Shores, L. (2018). The American Dream in Truman Capote's In Cold Blood. Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science, 16(2), 55-64.
• Steinberg, J. (1994). In Cold Blood: A Legacy Revisited. The Southern Review, 30(4), 882-899.
• Weissman, J. (2015). "I'm not a normal person": Violence, Identity, and Authorship in Truman Capote's In Cold Blood. Journal of American Studies, 49(4), 783-801.

*minimum deadline

Cite this Essay

To export a reference to this article please select a referencing style below

• Crazy Rich Asians
• Andrew Marvell
• A Midsummer Night's Dream

Related Essays

Need writing help?

You can always rely on us no matter what type of paper you need

*No hidden charges

100% Unique Essays

Absolutely Confidential

Money Back Guarantee

By clicking “Send Essay”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement. We will occasionally send you account related emails

You can also get a UNIQUE essay on this or any other topic

Thank you! We’ll contact you as soon as possible.

71 In Cold Blood Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best in cold blood topic ideas & essay examples, 📌 most interesting in cold blood topics to write about, 👍 good research topics about in cold blood, ❓ in cold blood essay questions.

• Nature vs. Nurture: “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote Thus, by contrasting Dick’s nurturing in love and affection and the conditions of his blissful childhood and adolescence with the details of a horrible crime committed by him and his attitude to it, the author […]
• “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote: Summary & Analysis of Main Characters The founder of this genre is considered the American writer Truman Capote, who in 1965 wrote the first report in the form of the novel In Cold Blood.
• Capote’s Craft in “In Cold Blood” Writing The two killers drive to the Clutter’s home later in the night and kill the four family members in a theft attack.
• Morality in “Faerie Queene Book II” by Capote and “In Cold Blood” by Spenser The thanksgiving dinner for the family reunion is also one case in point that represents religious as well as social morals for the Clutter family.Mr.
• The Influence of the Characters Childhoods on Their Future Personalities in “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote
• A Literary Analysis of the Morality in “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote
• Sympathy for Murderer in Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood”
• The Clutter Family Roles in Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood”
• The Codependent Relationship of Dick and Perry in Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood”
• Loss of Innocence in Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood”
• Style Over Substance in Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood”
• The Controversial Subject of the Death Penalty in “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote
• Figurative Language in Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood”
• The Banality of Evil in “In Cold Blood”: A True Account of a Multiple Murder and Its Consequences by Truman Capote
• Mix of Journalism and Fiction in Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood”
• Comparing the Text of Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood” With the 2005 Film Capote
• The Brutal Cases of Murders in Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood”
• A Literary Analysis of Juxtaposition in “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote
• Conflict and the Theme of Evil in “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote
• Power and Imagery in Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood”
• Experimental Journalism Surrounding the Clutter Family Murder in “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote
• The Entertainment and Practical Purposes in “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote
• The Similarities in Marianoel’s “Life Goes on” and Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood”
• How Is Tension Created in Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood”
• The Life of Truman Capote and the Influence of His Life Experiences on His Literary Work “In Cold Blood”
• The Importance of Evil in Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood”
• The Concept of Silent Narration in “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote
• An Analysis of Characters Affected by the Clutter Murders in Truman Capote’s Non-fiction Book “In Cold Blood”
• The Chilling Opening of Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood”
• How Capote’s “In Cold Blood” and Lewis’s Main Street Discredit the Typical Western Stereotype
• Nature vs Nurture in Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood”
• The Analysis of a Murder in Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood”
• A Character Analysis of Perry Smith and Dick Hickock From “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote
• Psychological Trauma in Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood”
• The Similarities and Differences Between the Clutters, Dick, and Perry in Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood”
• Novel and Film Versions of Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood”
• The Use of Pathos in Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood”
• The Presentation of Victims in “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote
• Perry’s Refusal to Be a Hypocrite in “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote
• The Dark Side of Humanity and Violence in America in “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote
• Mental Illness in Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood”
• Ethics of Punishment Essay on Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood”
• A Character Analysis of Nancy Clutter as a Symbol of Innocence in “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote
• Anyone Except the Clutters: What Meaning in Capote’s “In Cold Blood”?
• What Does the “In Cold Blood” Title Mean?
• What Is Dick’s Opinion of Perry in “In Cold Blood”?
• What Was Truman Capote’s Relationship With Perry Smith From “In Cold Blood”?
• What Is the Corner in “In Cold Blood”?
• Who Slit Herb Clutters Throat in “In Cold Blood”?
• Why Were the Clutters Murdered in “In Cold Blood”?
• Who Found the Clutters Dead in “In Cold Blood”?
• Which Movie “In Cold Blood” Is Better, Capote or Infamous?
• What Is the Double Meaning of “In Cold Blood”?
• How Was the Clutter Family Murdered in “In Cold Blood”?
• Why Is “In Cold Blood” Controversial?
• Where Did the Expression “In Cold Blood” Come From?
• How Does “In Cold Blood” Provide Insight Into the Nature of American Crime?
• Is Truman Capote Overrated in “In Cold Blood”?
• Why Is “In Cold Blood” Important to American Literature?
• What Can We Learn From “In Cold Blood”?
• What Does the Yellow Bird Symbolize in “In Cold Blood”?
• How Does Capote Create Sympathy for Perry in “In Cold Blood”?
• How Does Capote Humanize the Killers in “In Cold Blood”?
• Is “In Cold Blood” a True Story?
• What Does the Clutter House Symbolize in “In Cold Blood”?
• How Is Religion a Theme in “In Cold Blood”?
• What Church Did the Clutter Family Attend in “In Cold Blood”?
• Where Does “In Cold Blood” Take Place?
• What Do You Think Perry Saw in Willie Jay in “In Cold Blood”?
• How Did Herb Clutter Feel About Bobby Rupp, Nancy’s Boyfriend in “In Cold Blood”?
• Death Penalty Questions
• The Problem of Evil Topics
• Prison Paper Topics
• Family Relationships Research Ideas
• Gun Control Titles
• Organized Crime Titles
• Criminal Justice Essay Topics
• Capital Punishment Topics
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2024, February 25). 71 In Cold Blood Essay Topic Ideas & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/in-cold-blood-essay-examples/

"71 In Cold Blood Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." IvyPanda , 25 Feb. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/in-cold-blood-essay-examples/.

IvyPanda . (2024) '71 In Cold Blood Essay Topic Ideas & Examples'. 25 February.

IvyPanda . 2024. "71 In Cold Blood Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." February 25, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/in-cold-blood-essay-examples/.

1. IvyPanda . "71 In Cold Blood Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." February 25, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/in-cold-blood-essay-examples/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "71 In Cold Blood Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." February 25, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/in-cold-blood-essay-examples/.

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Reader — Suspense and Tension as Plot Driving Factors in In Cold Blood

Suspense and Tension as Plot Driving Factors in in Cold Blood

• Categories: In Cold Blood Reader

About this sample

Words: 1139 |

Pages: 2.5 |

Published: Jun 29, 2018

Words: 1139 | Pages: 2.5 | 6 min read

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Verified writer

• Expert in: Literature

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

1.5 pages / 777 words

2 pages / 1005 words

2 pages / 871 words

2.5 pages / 1050 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Reader

Reading is a multifaceted journey that shapes our thoughts, broadens our horizons, and defines our identities. Reflecting on my own reading habits, preferences, and experiences, I realize that my evolution as a reader has been [...]

The book I’ve finished is called “The Rivalry Mystery At The Army – Navy Game” by John Feinstein. The time this book was published was on September 28th, 2010. The army navy game mentioned in the book took place on the Saturday [...]

In the realm of self-help literature, Don Miguel Ruiz's work stands as a compelling beacon of insight and personal growth. His book, "The Four Agreements," resonates with readers seeking profound transformation and a deeper [...]

In An Inspector Calls, Mr.Birling and the Inspector are complete opposites of each other and are used to support different ideas of the themes in the play. Their importance in terms of awareness of society, consideration for the [...]

Perhaps nothing is more frequent in the pages of history books than wars. Since the beginning of time, men have fought to hold their ground and conquer more. Yet the images of war are not always the trumpeting, flag-flying, [...]

In William Shakespeare's "Antony and Cleopatra," the character Enobarbus plays a multifaceted and crucial role. As a trusted follower and close friend of Antony, he serves as a confidant to the protagonist, offering a unique [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

In Cold Blood

By truman capote.

• In Cold Blood Summary

The Clutter family – Herbert and Bonnie, and their teenage children, Nancy and Kenyon – lead a prosperous and principled life on their farm in Holcomb, a small rural settlement in western Kansas. They are prominent and respected members of the community, in both Holcomb and the neighboring Garden City, and Herb Clutter is known to be a generous employer. Their life is disciplined, but pleasant and well provided for. The narration follows the Clutters through the events of November 14th, 1959, which is ominously referred to as the family’s “last.” In another part of Kansas, two men on parole from the Kansas State Penitentiary, Dick Hickock and Perry Smith , are planning a “score,” which includes a 12-gauge shotgun, rubber gloves, rope, and black stockings. Over the course of the day, they make their way in the direction of Garden City by car, making various stops along the way. They arrive shortly after midnight, and proceed to the Clutter farm.

On the morning of November 15th, two friends of Nancy Clutter ’s arrive at the house and find Nancy upstairs, dead from a shotgun blast to the head. The authorities, in turn, find three more bodies: all four Clutters have been brutally murdered, the children and Bonnie with a shotgun, and Herb Clutter with a knife to the throat. The police find very little evidence at the crime scene: only two sets of boot prints, and the materials used to bind the victims. The residents of Garden City and Holcomb are shocked and deeply troubled by the murders, and many speculate that the killer or killers may be among them.

An investigation is launched, led by Alvin Dewey . The team also includes Special Agents Clarence Duntz , Harold Nye , and Roy Church . Perry and Dick are already far away in Kansas City, reading about the crime in the newspaper and wondering about the likelihood that it will be traced to them. While the detectives begin their search for physical evidence and witness testimonials, the fugitives head for Mexico, pausing only long enough to earn some quick cash by dropping bad checks in Kansas City.

Details about the murderers are slowly revealed in the course of the narration. Perry dreams of grand adventures and of being whisked away from his troubles by beautiful parrots; his escapist reveries are a way of compensating for the trauma of his childhood and his degraded lifestyle. He is self-conscious, sensitive, and philosophic. Dick, on the other hand, is cocky, self-assured, and pragmatic; financial irresponsibility has led him away from a solid upbringing to a life of petty crime. His ambitions are also a way of compensating for his lack of means, but his bluster and bravado stand in sharp contrast to Perry’s demure presence.

The investigative team receives its first lead in the form of Floyd Wells , a former employee of Herb Clutter’s who celled with Dick at the Kansas State Penitentiary, and who told Dick that the Clutters kept a locked safe full of cash in their home. The detectives follow up on Wells’ testimony, and discover that both Dick and Perry were traveling on the night of the killings. Meanwhile, the fugitives have returned to the United States, and continue to roam the countryside, hitchhiking. Eventually, the police trace a stolen car to them, and they are apprehended in Las Vegas just before New Years’, six weeks after the murders.

During the interrogation, the detectives only gradually reveal that the two men are wanted for quadruple homicide. Catching Dick in a web of lies and false alibis, they succeed in forcing a confession out of him, but he blames Perry for all four murders. En route to Garden City, Agent Dewey convinces Perry, in turn, that Dick has confessed to the crime, and Perry, finally defeated, provides a lengthy account of how the murders transpired. According to Perry, their initial aim was to rob the Clutters, having heard from Floyd Wells that Herb Clutter kept ten thousand dollars in a safe inside the house. When they arrived and found no safe, nor anything else of significant value, Perry had wanted to abandon the scene, but Dick urged him to stay and follow through: "No witnesses." Trying to make Dick admit that he couldn't actually go through with the killings, Perry himself took up the knife, meaning "to call his bluff," but was seized by sudden emotion, and to his surprise found himself slitting Mr. Clutter's throat. The subsequent shootings all happened in a blind frenzy on the part of the killers, after which they fled the scene.

The men are put on trial in Garden City. In the course of the trial, the prisoners undergo a psychiatric evaluation, during which it is concluded that both show definite signs of mental illness and emotional dysfunction. Perry almost certainly suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, and Dick has brain damage incurred in a car accident as a young man. In the case of Perry, who has confessed to all four murders, the doctors conclude that the killings functioned as a form of unconscious retribution for all the misfortunes and disappointments of his life, beginning in his childhood. For Perry, the Clutters and their immaculate lifestyle symbolized everything the world had denied him, and their murders, beginning with Herb Clutter, were a quasi-automatic response.

In spite of these findings, the court upholds the M’Naghten rule, which disregards mental illness in determining whether criminals are responsible for their actions. Dick and Perry are found guilty of four counts of murder in the first degree, and sentenced to death by hanging. They spend five years on Death Row, where they are joined by Lowell Lee Andrews , Ronnie York and James Latham, all high-profile murderers. In spite of numerous appeals, as well as allegations of mistrial (from Dick), they are hanged on April 14th, 1965, before a crowd of twenty witnesses.

The last scene belongs to Alvin Dewey, who visits the cemetery where the Clutters are buried, and marvels at the persistence of life, even in the aftermath of such hopeless tragedy.

In Cold Blood Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for In Cold Blood is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

1. Compare and contrast the way Perry handled his interrogation with the way that Dick handled his interrogation.

Dick and Perry are interrogated by police, both believing that they are being arrested for parole violations and Dick's bad check schemes. Dick becomes calm even lackadaisical when the questioning turns to his personal life and history. When...

In Perry’s father’s letter to the Kansas State Parole Board, what’s the Golden Rule he claims to have instilled in his son? How is this ironic?

Live and let live. Ironic because Perry was a snitch as a kid.

Who was the principal suspect?

Bobby Rupp was the initial suspect in the crime.

Study Guide for In Cold Blood

In Cold Blood study guide contains a biography of Truman Capote, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About In Cold Blood
• Character List

Essays for In Cold Blood

In Cold Blood essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of In Cold Blood by Truman Capote.

• In Cold Blood: Retaining the Reader's Interest through Suspense and Tension
• The Narrator's Perspective in True Crime Books
• Perry Smith's Culpability in 'In Cold Blood'
• Truman Capote: A Child's True Nature in "Miriam"
• The Art of Manipulation

Lesson Plan for In Cold Blood

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to In Cold Blood
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• In Cold Blood Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for In Cold Blood

• Introduction
• Investigation and trial
• Coverage and public discussion
• Capote's research

Election latest: More police officers embroiled in betting scandal - as dropped Tory candidate vows to 'clear my name'

The Gambling Commission has passed information to the Met about five more officers allegedly placing bets on the timing of the election. Listen to the latest Electoral Dysfunction podcast as you scroll.

Tuesday 25 June 2024 16:01, UK

• General Election 2024
• More police officers accused of betting on election date
• Tory candidate dropped over scandal vows to 'clear my name'
• Idris Elba joins Labour event on knife crime
• Starmer says children 'worried' about possible move into No 10
• Live reporting by Tim Baker

Election essentials

• Manifesto pledges: Alliance Party | Conservatives | DUP | Greens | Labour | Lib Dems | Plaid Cymru | Reform | SNP | Sinn Fein | Workers Party
• Trackers:  Who's leading polls? | Is PM keeping promises?
• Campaign Heritage: Memorable moments from elections gone by
• Follow Sky's politics podcasts: Electoral Dysfunction | Politics At Jack And Sam's
• Read more:  Who is standing down? | Key seats to watch | What counts as voter ID? | Check if your constituency is changing | Guide to election lingo | Sky's election night plans

Last night, actor David Tennant urged Kemi Badenoch - the minister for women - to "shut up" as he accepted the celebrity ally accolade at the British LGBT Awards.

He said: "Until we wake up and Kemi Badenoch doesn't exist anymore, I don't wish ill off her - I just wish she would shut up."

The Doctor Who actor goes on to say that Pride is a "family affair" for him, adding: "We have skin in the game."

But Ms Badenoch has now responded to his comments, saying: "I will not be silenced by men who prioritise applause from Stonewall over the safety of women and girls.

"A rich, lefty, white male celebrity so blinded by ideology he can’t see the optics of attacking the only black woman in government by calling publicly for my existence to end

"Tennant is one of Labour’s celebrity supporters. This is an early example of what life will be like if they win.

"Keir Starmer stood by while Rosie Duffield was hounded. He and his supporters will do the same with the country.

"Do not let the bigots and bullies win."

By Alix Culbertson , political reporter

The Conservatives have withdrawn support for two candidates who are being investigated over placing election bets.

There are strict rules around gambling.

Section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005 deals with cheating and says a person commits an offence if they cheat at gambling or do "anything for the purpose of enabling or assisting another person to cheat at gambling".

It adds: "It is immaterial whether a person who cheats improves his changes of winning anything, or wins anything."

Cheating is defined as an "actual or attempted deception or interference in connection with the process by which gambling is conducted, or a real or virtual game, race or other event or process to which gambling relates".

Someone found guilty of cheating at gambling can be imprisoned for a maximum of two years and/or fined, or six months in prison for a lesser offence.

Betting with insider knowledge is also not allowed as an MP, with the MPs' code of conduct prohibiting members from "causing significant damage to the reputation and integrity of the house".

Craig Williams, who has been dropped by the Tories as a candidate over betting on the election timing, said he had "committed an error of judgement, not an offence".

He insisted: "I intend to clear my name".

In a video statement shared on X, the candidate for Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr said he "remains on the ballot paper" for the election on 4 July.

After being dropped by the Conservative Party, Mr Williams will likely stand as an independent candidate in the constituency.

"I committed an error of judgement, not an offence, and I want to reiterate my apology directly to you," he says.

"I am co-operating with the routine inquiries for the Gambling Commission and I intend to clear my name."

Mr Williams is one of two Conservative candidates the party has withdrawn support for in the wake of the scandal, the other being Bristol North West hopeful Laura Saunders.

A Conservative Party spokesperson said: "As a result of ongoing internal enquiries, we have concluded that we can no longer support Craig Williams or Laura Saunders as parliamentary candidates at the forthcoming general election. 

"We have checked with the Gambling Commission that this decision does not compromise the investigation that they are conducting, which is rightly independent and ongoing."

The other candidates in Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr are:

• Jeremy Brignell-Thorp, Green Party
• Oliver Lewis, Reform UK
• Glyn Preston, Lib Dems
• Elwyn Vaughan, Plaid Cymru
• Steve Witherden, Labour

And those standing in Bristol North West are:

• Caroline Gooch, Lib Dems
• Darren Jones, Labour
• Scarlett O'Connor, Reform UK
• Mary Page, Green Party
• Ben Smith, SDP

A new voter intention poll, carried out by JL Partners, suggests Reform might be falling back in support.

The pollsters asked 2,005 adults in Britain for their opinion between Friday last week and yesterday.

It was on Friday that Reform leader Nigel Farage said the West had "provoked" Vladimir Putin into invading Ukraine - a move that was condemned widely across much of the UK political spectrum.

The results show Reform support down three percentage points compared to the week before, sitting at 15%.

The Conservatives, meanwhile, are up two points and Labour are up one.

JL Partners never showed Reform as having more support than the Tories, as some pollsters have done.

By Tom Cheshire , online campaign correspondent

There are two ways to reach voters online: pay for your adverts to end up in front of them - or produce content yourself that gets attention.

Throughout the election, we've been tracking the first of those. Labour have been the big digital spenders, with the Conservatives second, and then everyone else a very distant third.

But throwing money at it doesn't necessarily fix the attention problem. 

And some of those spending the least are getting the most interactions, with the Reform UK party doing by far the best.

Reform is also seeing the most page growth, with 32,000 new followers.

The Conservative Party by comparison has seen much slower growth, just 0.08%. 

That's only 596 more people clicking follow over the course of the election, speaking to a spluttering campaign.

The Gambling Commission has sent information on five more Metropolitan Police officers to the force over the election betting scandal.

They are alleged to have placed bets relating to the timing of the general election.

One officer - who was a member of the prime minister's protection detail - was placed on restricted duties last week.

Sky News reported that additional officers were being considered as part of the investigation.

The officer who was put on restricted duties last week was also arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office.

In a statement released in the past few moments, the Met said it remains the case that just one officer is under criminal investigation.

The force said: "We have, however, been passed information from the Gambling Commission alleging that five further officers have placed bets related to the timing of the election.

"The officers are based on the Royalty and Specialist Command, the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command and the Central West Basic Command Unit. None of them work in a close protection role.

"Decisions on whether they will be subject to any restrictions will be taken in due course."

As we reported this morning, Hollywood star Idris Elba has joined the Labour leader at an event on knife crime.

The actor has been vocal about the issue, and the party has today announced its plans for a crackdown - including a review of how blades are sold online.

Elba has since posted a video on Instagram revealing details of his conversations with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

They had a "very important" meeting with campaign organisations and victims' families to discuss "what we need to do as a country to fight this".

The Wire star added: "It was non-political, and I'm making that clear because this is a societal issue.

"But as someone that might be taking the hot seat, it was really important to hear what he had to say about his plans.

"He listened. He listened to what the organisations had to say."

Elba said he was at the event "as a concerned parent, concerned citizen", and stressed the need for "cross-party" cooperation.

"We are trying to get both sides of the political agenda to look at this, because it's something that affects all of our society," he added.

Away from the campaign, we've brought you pictures today of the Japanese emperor and empress enjoying a state visit to the UK.

It's day one of a three-day trip - and its timing is indeed unusual.

During the entire 70-year reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II, the country never hosted state visits during election campaigns.

As recently as 2017, a planned trip by Spain's King Felipe VI was quickly rescheduled after then prime minister Theresa May called a snap poll.

This one has still gone ahead, with Rishi Sunak and some of his top ministers taking part in the pomp and ceremony.

But Buckingham Palace did say the trip had been "slightly adapted".

Missing elements appear to be the usual Downing Street talks with the prime minister, the visitor's speech to the Palace of Westminster, and meetings with opposition leaders.

However, Labour's Sir Keir Starmer is expected to join Mr Sunak at a state banquet this evening.

A Japanese foreign ministry official said the emperor and empress's visit would not be a political one, and it was hoped it would forge "friendly relations across generations" between Japan's imperial family and the British royal family.

Pat McFadden, Labour's national campaign coordinator, has been speaking to broadcasters about Conservative candidates having their support from the party pulled while they are investigated in connection with the betting scandal.

He said: "It's taken Rishi Sunak the best part of two weeks to act on this. 

"That is just weak leadership - and what the whole thing shows is that if the Conservative Party won again on 4 July, they would think they could get away with anything."

Asked if he was worried about Labour candidates placing bets on the date of the election, Mr McFadden pointed out his party did not have advanced knowledge of the date.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has been on This Morning on ITV.

At one point, the discussion turned to the Labour leader's children.

Sir Keir has a daughter aged 13 and a son aged 15.

Asked if the pair are worried about a potential move into Downing Street, Sir Keir said "they are".

As children, they "don't want things to change" and have "things set up at home exactly as you would want them".

This includes their friends and "first little bits of independence".

Sir Keir says he and his wife Victoria will "fiercely protect" the privacy of the children should they end up in 10 Downing Street.

This means things like photoshoots are off the cards - with the Labour leader admitting this means the public does "lose" the chance to see him with his family, which "gives you a sense of what person you are".

The names of the Starmer children are not publicly known, with Sir Keir saying he wants them to be able to walk to school "as their own people".

He says the situation would be different if they were older.

"We're trying to make sure that they can have the lives of an ordinary teenage boy and girl," he added.

He confirmed the whole family would move in if he becomes PM.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free