Ex-MP Craig Williams charged with betting offences
Fifteen folks together with former Conservative MP Craig Williams have been charged with betting offences by the Playing Fee.
The investigation was launched final yr following bets positioned on the timing of the 2024 normal election.
The fee mentioned the investigation targeted on people “suspected of utilizing confidential data – particularly advance information of the proposed election date – to realize an unfair benefit in betting markets”.
Earlier than the election was referred to as, Williams was the MP for Montgomeryshire and an aide to then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
The group of these charged consists of Russell George, a Member of the Senedd, who was suspended from the Welsh Conservative group after he was charged.
Others charged embrace Laura Saunders, the previous Conservative parliamentary candidate in Bristol North West, and her companion Anthony Lee, a former director of campaigning for the Conservatives; Thomas James, the director of the Welsh Conservatives and Nick Mason, a former chief information officer for the social gathering.
A Conservative spokesman mentioned the social gathering “believes that these working in politics should act with integrity”.
“Present members of employees who’ve been charged are being suspended with instant impact,” he mentioned.
“These incidents occurred in Might final yr. Our social gathering is now below new management and we’re cooperating absolutely with the Playing Fee to make sure that their investigation can conclude swiftly and transparently.”
Welsh Conservatives chief Darren Millar mentioned the suspension of George was “a impartial act pending the end result of the justice course of”.
Bernard Gentry, chairman of the Welsh Conservatives’, informed BBC Wales: “It is disappointing that these people have been charged. However we have to watch for the results of the court docket case earlier than passing judgement.”
Others on the listing are:
- Simon Chatfield, 51, of Decrease Bourne, Farnham
- Amy Hind, 34, of Loughton, Essex
- Anthony Hind, 36, Loughton, Essex,
- Former police officer Jeremy Hunt, 55, of Horne, Horley
- Charlotte Lang, 36, of Brixton, London
- Iain Makepeace, 47, of Newcastle Upon Tyne
- Paul Place, 53, of Hammersmith, London
- James Ward, 40, London
- Jacob Willmer, 39, of Richmond, London
These charged are resulting from seem at Westminster Magistrates Court docket on 13 June.
On 22 Might 2024, Rishi Sunak introduced the final election could be held on 4 July – a choice that overturned expectations of an autumn ballot.
In early June 2024, it was reported that Williams had positioned a guess on the date of the final election.
Approached by the BBC, Williams mentioned he had “clearly made an enormous error of judgement that is for positive and I apologise”.
He refused to touch upon whether or not he knew concerning the election date when he positioned the wager saying it could not be “applicable” whereas the Playing Fee was investigating.
Following the fee’s choice to launch an investigation, the Conservative Social gathering pulled its assist for Williams and Saunders.
