Former British MP Craig Williams was one of fifteen who appeared in court on Friday, over cheating allegations relating to bets placed on the 2024 U.K. general election. The defendants will now face a preliminary hearing in July.
Key Takeaways
- 15 defendants appeared in court on Friday, accused of cheating by placing bets on the timing of the U.K.’s 2024 election
- The accused include former Tory MP Craig Williams, who was aide to Rishi Sunak
- Williams was one of three who did not enter a plea, the others denied the charges
- If found guilty, the defendants could face up to two years in prison
Fifteen people have appeared in court accused of election betting offences. The accused include former Conservative MP Craig Williams, the former Tory aide to then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
A bet placed by Williams just days before the announcement of the U.K.’s 2024 general election was first to come under suspicion last June.
Williams’ £100 Ladbrokes bet soon sparked a scandal that dominated debate as the U.K. headed to the polls, with the list of those implicated seeming to grow by the day.
Following the Gambling Commission’s investigation into bets placed by those who could have benefited from information shared with them, 15 people were formally charged with offences under the Gambling Act 2005.
The accused appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday, June 13. They are charged with the offence of cheating under Section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005, which is a criminal offence.
Former MP Craig Williams was one of three who did not enter a plea on June 13. Jacob Wilmer, a former government special adviser, and former police officer Jeremy Hunt also gave no indication of plea.
The remaining 12 indicated that they would deny the charges. These included another former Conservative, Russell George, and Thomas James, the suspended director of the Welsh Conservatives. Nick Mason, the party’s former chief data officer, and former chief marketing officer of the party, Simon Chatfield, also denied the charges.
Others pleading not guilty included Charlotte Lang, Anthony Lee, Laura Saunders, Iain Makepeace, Amy Hind, Anthony Hind, Paul Place and James Ward.
Former PM provides witness statement
Sam Stein KC, who is prosecuting on behalf of the Gambling Commission, revealed that former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is one of those who have given a witness statement.
Mr Stein said that the investigation had focused on “politicians and employees of the Conservative Party, and a former police officer... who had placed bets on the date of the 2024 general election with the benefit of confidential or insider information as to when that date might be.”
Stein went on to say that “the prosecution says that placing bets with inside information is a criminal offence, namely cheating.”
In court, all fifteen defendants confirmed their names and addresses before being released on unconditional bail.
The case has now been referred to the Crown Court by Senior District Judge Paul Goldspring. The accused are expected to appear at Southwark Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on July 11. If found guilty, they could face prison sentences of up to two years.
