The former conservative lawmakers are 15 of 15 people accused of tricking up a bet placed on the timing of the UK’s 2024 general election.
Craig Williams, a Montgomeryshire MP and the legislative secretary to former Prime Minister Rishi Snack at the time of his bet, was one of several individuals who surveyed to cash insider knowledge about the date Snack would call the election.
It is legal for British politicians and party officials to wager elections, but the investigation looked into whether they used inside information to gain unfair benefits.
Sunak was most surprised when he announced in May last year that he would set an election date on July 4th. Most people expected it not to happen by summer.
Other individuals facing the charges included Russell George, a conservative member of Welsh Parliament. Thomas James, director of Welsh conservatives. Simon Chatfield, former chief marketing officer of the party. The Gambling Committee said Monday by former conservative campaign director Anthony Lee.
Former police officers were also among those charged with fraud.
The investigation, launched in June 2024, specifically looked into “individuals suspected of using confidential information (particularly progressive knowledge of the proposed election day) to obtain unfair benefits in the betting market,” the Gambling Commission said.
Williams previously admitted that Snack placed a £100 (116 euros) bet on the July election three days before the date of the vote was announced.
“I made a mistake in my judgment, not a crime. I want to repeat my apology to you in person,” he said in a video posted on social media in June.
This bet could have resulted in a 5/1 odds of £500 (580 euros). Williams lost his seat in the election and placed third.
The accused is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on June 13, the Gambling Commission said.
The scandal that emerged following the Guardian’s report on the bets placed on election day in July before Sunak’s announcement was embarrassing for the party.
The newspaper reported at the time that he understood that he was a “political exposed person” and that he automatically raised the Red Flag following Williams’ bet.
“The Conservatives believe that people who work in politics must act with sincerity,” a party spokesman said. “Current members of the staff being billed are being stopped immediately.”
