Fifteen individuals, including former Conservative MP Craig Williams, have been charged by the Gambling Commission over alleged betting offences linked to the timing of the 2024 general election. The investigation centers on claims that some used confidential knowledge of the election date announced by then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on May 22, 2024 to gain an unfair advantage in betting markets.
Williams, who previously served as MP for Montgomeryshire and a close aide to Sunak, admitted to making a “huge error of judgement” after reports emerged in June 2024 that he had placed a bet on the election date. Others charged include Welsh Senedd member Russell George (now suspended by the Welsh Conservatives), former Tory candidate Laura Saunders, and her partner Anthony Lee, a former party campaign director.
The Conservative Party, now under new leadership, stated it is cooperating fully with the investigation and has suspended any current staff members facing charges. Welsh Conservatives leader Darren Millar called George’s suspension a “neutral act” pending legal proceedings.
Also among the accused are several former senior Conservative officials, including Nick Mason (ex-chief data officer) and Simon Chatfield (former chief marketing officer), as well as a Metropolitan Police officer attached to royal protection at the time of the alleged offences. The Gambling Commission confirmed all 15 will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on June 13, with potential penalties ranging from fines to two years in prison if convicted.
Labour Party chair Ellie Reeves demanded clarity from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, insisting anyone found guilty of exploiting insider information must be expelled from the party. The scandal has reignited scrutiny over integrity in politics, particularly after Sunak’s surprise decision to call a summer election months earlier than many anticipated.
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