Rishi Sunak‘s former aide is among 15 people to have been charged following a probe into bets placed on the date of last year’s general election.
Craig Williams, who was the ex-prime minister’s parliamentary private secretary until last summer, has been charged with offences under the Gambling Act 2005.
The former MP was the Tory candidate for Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr at last July’s election.
But he saw the party pull its support for his re-election bid amid a scandal over bets placed on the timing of the Westminster contest.
Mr Williams admitted a the time to having a ‘flutter’ on the election date just days before it was announced in May last year.
Among the 14 others charged by the Gambling Commission are Laura Saunders, who was the Conservative candidate in Bristol North West.
Her husband Tony Lee, who was the Conservatives’ director of campaigning, has also been charged.
Russell George, the Senedd member for Montgomeryshire, Nick Mason, a former chief data officer for the Tories, and Jeremy Hunt, a former police officer, are also facing charges.
Rishi Sunak announced the date of the 2024 general election in a downpour outside Downing Street on 22 May last year
Craig Williams, who was the ex-prime minister’s parliamentary private secretary until last summer, has been charged with offences under the Gambling Act 2005.
A Gambling Commission spokesman said: ‘The Gambling Commission has charged 15 people with offences under the Gambling Act 2005 following an investigation into alleged cheating related to bets placed on the timing of the 2024 general election.
‘The investigation, initiated 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.
‘Such actions constitute an offence of cheating under Section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005, a criminal offence.’
Those who have been charged are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 13 June.
