Election Betting Scandal – 15 Charged Including Senior Tory Figures

Among the most prominent names is Craig Williams, the former Montgomeryshire MP and close parliamentary aide to then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Williams came under scrutiny after reports surfaced that he placed a bet on a July election shortly before the official date was made public.

Joining him on the charge sheet are Laura Saunders, Conservative candidate for Bristol North West; her husband Tony Lee, who served as the party’s campaigns director; Russell George, a member of the Welsh parliament; and Nick Mason, the former chief data officer for the Conservatives.

Additional individuals charged include Simon Chatfield, a former chief marketing officer for the party, as well as several others with past or present links to Conservative operations. Former police officer Jeremy Hunt is the only law enforcement figure among the 15, despite early reports that up to seven officers were under investigation.

This development follows months of media coverage and political fallout, with the Conservative Party suspending all staff members involved. Welsh Tory leader Darren Millar confirmed that George had been suspended from the Senedd Conservative group as a neutral step while legal proceedings are ongoing.

The accused are set to appear in court at Westminster Magistrates at 10am on 13 June 2025. If found guilty, they could face significant penalties under the Gambling Act.

The Commission said the probe began in June 2024 and was targeted at those who allegedly used inside knowledge of the election’s timing to exploit betting markets. “The Commission is committed to upholding the law and will take robust action against illegal betting practices,” it stated.

The scandal has stirred political jibes, with Labour chair Ellie Reeves calling the situation “a very serious development.” She urged that any individual found guilty “must face the full force of the law.”

Meanwhile, the Conservative Party is trying to manage the fallout as the issue raises broader concerns about ethics in both politics and regulated industries such as gambling. A spokesperson noted the events predated current leadership and said the party was cooperating fully with the Gambling Commission.

Separately, other betting-related controversies emerged during the same period, including that of Labour candidate Kevin Craig, who was suspended over a separate issue involving bets on his own election outcome. Labour announced it would return £100,000 in donations he had made to the party.