By Sarah Baafi
Fifteen individuals, including former Conservative MP Craig Williams, have been charged by the UK Gambling Commission over alleged betting offences tied to the timing of the 2024 general election. The investigation centers on accusations of using confidential information, specifically advance knowledge of the election date, to gain an unfair advantage in betting markets.
Craig Williams, who served as Rishi Sunak’s parliamentary aide and was MP for Montgomeryshire, reportedly placed a £100 bet on the election date shortly before Sunak announced it as July 4. Other prominent figures charged include Russell George, a Welsh Conservative Senedd member; Laura Saunders, a former parliamentary candidate; and her partner Anthony Lee, a former Conservative campaign director. Additional suspects include Nick Mason, the party’s ex-chief data officer, and several others from various professional backgrounds.
The Gambling Commission stated that using insider information for betting could constitute cheating under Section 42 of the Gambling Act. Those charged are set to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on June 13. The scandal has sparked calls for accountability, with opposition parties urging Prime Minister Sunak to suspend implicated individuals.
Source: BBC
