Ex-MP Craig Williams among 15 charged with betting offences

Fifteen people including former Conservative MP Craig Williams have been charged with betting offences by the Gambling Commission.

The investigation was launched last year following bets placed on the timing of the 2024 general election.

The commission 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".

Before the election was called, Williams was the MP for Montgomeryshire and an aide to then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The group of those charged includes Russell George, a Member of the Senedd, who was suspended from the Welsh Conservative group after he was charged.

Others charged include Laura Saunders, the former Conservative parliamentary candidate in Bristol North West, and her partner Anthony Lee, a former director of campaigning for the Conservatives; Thomas James, the director of the Welsh Conservatives and Nick Mason, a former chief data officer for the party.

A Conservative spokesman said the party "believes that those working in politics must act with integrity".

"Current members of staff who have been charged are being suspended with immediate effect," he said.

"These incidents took place in May last year. Our party is now under new leadership and we are cooperating fully with the Gambling Commission to ensure that their investigation can conclude swiftly and transparently."

Welsh Conservatives leader Darren Millar said the suspension of George was "a neutral act pending the outcome of the justice process".

Bernard Gentry, chairman of the Welsh Conservatives', told BBC Wales: "It's disappointing that these individuals have been charged. But we need to wait for the result of the court case before passing judgement."

Others on the list are:

• Simon Chatfield, 51, of Lower 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

Those charged are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on 13 June.

On 22 May 2024, Rishi Sunak announced the general election would be held on 4 July - a decision that overturned expectations of an autumn poll.

In early June 2024, it was reported that Williams had placed a bet on the date of the general election.

Approached by the BBC, Williams said he had "clearly made a huge error of judgement that's for sure and I apologise".

He refused to comment on whether he knew about the election date when he placed the wager saying it would not be "appropriate" while the Gambling Commission was investigating.

Following the commission's decision to launch an investigation, the Conservative Party pulled its support for Williams and Saunders.