Former Conservative MP Craig Williams has been charged with betting offences by the Gambling Commission, after allegedly placing a wager on the date of last year’s general election.
Williams is one of 15 people who were charged on Monday following an investigation into alleged cheating under the Gambling Act.
Last May, then-prime minister Rishi Sunak called a general election for July 4, surprising many who had expected the ballot to be held later in the year.
Williams — who as parliamentary private secretary to Sunak was one of his most trusted aides at the time, as well as being the MP for Montgomeryshire — lost his seat at the election.
The Gambling Commission, which began its probe during the general election campaign, said the investigation focused on “individuals suspected of using confidential information — specifically advance knowledge of the proposed election date — to gain an unfair advantage in betting markets”.
Actions such as this constitute as cheating under the Gambling Act 2005.
Those charged are set to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on June 13th.
A Conservative spokesperson said the party has suspended current members of staff who have been charged with “immediate effect”.
Stressing that the party is now under “new leadership” since the alleged incidents took place last year, the person added: “We are co-operating fully with the Gambling Commission to ensure that their investigation can conclude swiftly and transparently.”
Ellie Reeves, chair of the Labour party, urged Kemi Badenoch to permanently ban anyone convicted in the scandal from the Conservative party, saying the Tory leader should “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”.
She added: “The British people will expect that anyone found guilty of wrongdoing faces the full force of the law.”
Tony Lee, who was the Tories head of campaigning at the time the scandal erupted, has also been charged, alongside his wife Laura Saunders, who was a Conservative staffer who stood as a parliamentary candidate for Bristol North West.
Russell George, the Senedd member for Montgomeryshire, and Nick Mason, a former chief data officer for the Conservative party, and a former police officer called Jeremy Hunt — who is not the former chancellor — were also charged.
Charlotte Lang, who was the Conservative candidate for Aberavon in the 2019 general election, and Jacob Willmer, who was a special adviser to former Tory MP Greg Clark when he was business secretary, are also among those charged. They did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
