Rishi Sunak’s former parliamentary aide among 15 people charged over election betting scandal

IMAGO

A close associate of former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been charged over election betting offences, along with 14 others. 

Craig Williams, who served as MP for Montgomeryshire as well as Sunak’s parliamentary private secretary, prompted a full-scale Gambling Commission (UKGC) probe after he admitted to placing a £100 bet that the General Election would be held in July. 

To learn more about responsible gambling, visit our responsible gambling at casinos page which also offers resources and advice on where to seek help if needed. 

The bet was placed on19 May 2024. Three days later, then-PM Sunak announced the date of the vote would be 4 July.

The UK gambling regulator launched the investigation to determine if foul play had occurred, with a focus on “individuals suspected of using confidential information - specifically advance knowledge of the proposed election date - to gain an unfair advantage in betting markets.”

The 15 individuals, including a current Welsh Member of the Senedd and a former police officer, have been charged with cheating relating to the election bets and will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court at 10am on Friday 18 April to face the charges.

A separate Metropolitan Police probe concluded in August 2024, with the outcome detailing the offences under investigation did not meet the “high bar” to prove misconduct in office.

Met police detective superintendent Katherine Goodwin said in a statement: “While our involvement in the criminal investigation now ceases, it’s important that it is not misinterpreted as an all-clear for those whose cases were looked at.

“There are still Gambling Act offenses to consider, and it is appropriate that they are taken forward by investigators from the Gambling Commission who have particular expertise in this field.”

Sunak’s aide Williams admitted to having a ‘flutter’ on the election but claimed he "committed a serious error of judgement, not an offence." 

He was later dropped as a candidate for the national election, which was won by Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party.

Russell George is the Conservative Member of the Welsh Senedd who was implicated in the scandal. He was re-selected by the Welsh Tories to stand as a candidate in the Senedd elections next year, but has now been suspended, pending the "outcome of the justice process".

Other notable figures in the group to be charged include former police officer (not the senior Tory) Jeremy Hunt, former Tory campaign chief Tony Lee, his wife Laura Saunders (a former Tory election candidate) and Nick Mason, who served as the party’s chief data officer.

All the other people involved are, or were, either Conservative Party staffers or election candidates with an official spokesperson detailing: 

"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 cooperating fully with the Gambling Commission to ensure that their investigation can conclude swiftly and transparently."

The Gambling Commission confirmed the 15 individuals have been charged under section 42 of the Gambling Act, with those found guilty liable to face a fine or up to two years in prison.