Fifteen individuals, including former Conservative MP Craig Williams, faced charges in Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday, accused of betting offenses related to the timing of last year’s general election.
This follows a Gambling Commission investigation into alleged insider betting on the election date.
Williams, along with two other defendants, deferred entering a plea. Twelve others, among them Russell George, a former Conservative and now independent member of the Welsh Senedd, pleaded not guilty.
All defendants will reappear at Southwark Crown Court on July 11th.
The case centers on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s May 22nd, 2024 announcement of the July 4th election date, a departure from earlier predictions of an autumn vote. Prosecutor Sam Stein KC confirmed that Sunak provided a witness statement to the commission.
Mr. Stein stated the investigation targeted “politicians and employees of the Conservative Party, and a former police officer…who had placed bets on the date of the 2024 general election with the benefit of confidential or insider information.” He emphasized that “placing bets with inside information is a criminal offence, namely cheating.”
At the time of the election call, Williams served as the MP for Montgomeryshire and a parliamentary aide to Sunak. He previously represented Cardiff North (2015-2017).
Besides Williams, former police officer Jeremy Hunt (55) and Jacob Willmer (39) also reserved their pleas. Joining George in pleading not guilty were Laura Saunders, former Conservative parliamentary candidate for Bristol North West, her partner Anthony Lee, and others including Simon Chatfield (51), Amy Hind (34), Anthony Hind (36), Thomas James (38), Charlotte Lang (36), Iain Makepeace (47), Nick Mason (51), Paul Place (54), and James Ward (40).