Craig Williams: Former Tory MP among 15 charged over general election betting scandal
Get the Independent’s free betting newsletter for the latest tips and offersGet the Independent’s free betting newsletter for the latest tips and offersSign up to our betting newsletterA former Tory MP and aide to Rishi Sunak is among 15 people charged with offences relating to bets placed on the timing of the 2024 general election, the Gambling Commission has announced.The scandal over the alleged placing of bets on the timing of the election prior to Mr Sunak’s surprise decision to call the national ballot early engulfed the Conservative Party’s campaign last summer.While the Metropolitan Police dropped its own investigation last August, saying the bar for misconduct in public office had not been met, the Gambling Commission announced on Monday that it had brought charges against 15 individuals.Among those were Mr Sunak’s former parliamentary private secretary Craig Williams, the former Conservative MP for Montgomeryshire, who was charged with cheating under Section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005, which is a criminal offence.Russell George, the Tory Senedd member for Montgomeryshire, was also charged, along with the Conservative Party’s chief data officer Nick Mason and the party’s chief marketing officer Simon Chatfield.Laura Saunders, who was Tory candidate for Bristol North West at the election and her husband Tony Lee – the Conservative Party’s campaign chief – were also both charged.open image in galleryRishi Sunak’s election campaign was beset by allegations over the betting scandal (PA)The Gambling Commission said its investigation, which began during the election campaign in June 2024, focused on individuals “suspected of using confidential information – specifically advance knowledge of the proposed election date – to gain an unfair advantage in betting markets”.The other nine people charged with cheating include a former police officer, the Gambling Commission said.They are: Amy Hind, aged 34, from Loughton; Anthony Hind, 36, also from Loughton; former police officer Jeremy Hunt, 55, Horne; Thomas James, 38, Brecon; Charlotte Lang, 36, Brixton; Iain Makepeace, 47, Newcastle; Paul Place, 53, Hammersmith; James Ward, 40, London; and Jacob Willmer, 39, Richmond.They are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court at 10am on Friday 13 June 2025.Labour Party chair Ellie Reeves said: “This is a very serious development. The British people will expect that anyone found guilty of wrongdoing faces the full force of the law.“Kemi Badenoch must make crystal clear that anyone found guilty of using insider information to cheat the system to try to enrich themselves has no place in the Conservative Party. No ifs, no buts.”The Tory party said on Monday that staff members who had been charged were being “suspended with immediate effect”.open image in galleryThe Conservative Party said it was now under new leadership (EPA)A spokesperson said: “The Conservative Party believes that those working in politics must act with integrity. Current members of staff who have been charged are being suspended with immediate effect.“These incidents took place in May last year. Our party is now under new leadership and we are co-operating fully with the Gambling Commission to ensure that their investigation can conclude swiftly and transparently.”The Gambling Commission is the industry’s independent regulator, and has the authority under the Gambling Act to investigate offences and bring criminal prosecutions.
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