Rishi Sunak’s closest parliamentary aide during his time as prime minister has been charged, alongside 14 others, over alleged election betting offences.
The group facing charges includes a current member of the Welsh Senedd, a former police officer, senior Conservative Party figures, and campaign staff. They are accused of cheating in relation to bets placed on the timing of the 2024 general election.
All 15 individuals are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court at 10am this Friday to face the charges.
The Gambling Commission, which launched its investigation in June last year, stated that it focused on “individuals suspected of using confidential information – specifically advance knowledge of the proposed election date – to gain an unfair advantage in betting markets.”
The investigation was triggered after Craig Williams, the former Montgomeryshire MP and Mr Sunak’s parliamentary private secretary, admitted placing a £100 bet on 19 May 2024, wagering that the general election would be held in July.
Just three days later, Prime Minister Sunak announced that the general election would take place on 4 July. Williams, who was also standing as a candidate at the time, was subsequently dropped. He admitted to having placed a “flutter” on the outcome, acknowledging it as “a serious error of judgement, not an offence.”
Among those charged is Russell George, a Conservative member of the Welsh Senedd, who had returned to the front bench in October after previously stepping back from his role as spokesman for mid-Wales in June. Following the announcement of the charges, the Welsh Conservatives suspended him, stating the decision would remain “pending the outcome of the justice process”.
Other prominent figures charged include Jeremy Hunt, a former police officer (not the former chancellor); Tony Lee, the Conservatives’ former campaign director; his wife, Laura Saunders, a former Tory election candidate; and Nick Mason, the Conservatives’ former chief data officer.
The full list of those charged is as follows:
- Simon Chatfield, 51, from Farnham
- Russell George, 50, from Newtown, Wales (suspended Welsh Conservative Senedd member for Montgomeryshire)
- Amy Hind, 34, from Loughton, Essex
- Anthony Hind, 36, from Loughton, Essex
- Jeremy Hunt, 55, from Horley (former police officer)
- Thomas James, 38, from Brecon, Wales
- Charlotte Lang, 36, from Brixton
- Anthony Lee, 47, from Bristol (also known as Tony, former Conservative campaign director)
- Iain Makepeace, 47, from Newcastle upon Tyne
- Nick Mason, 51, from Gillingham (former Conservative chief data officer)
- Paul Place, 53, from Hammersmith, London
- Laura Saunders, 37, from Bristol (Tony Lee’s wife and former Conservative candidate for Bristol North West)
- James Ward, 40, from east London
- Craig Williams, 39, from Llanfair Caereinion, Welshpool
- Jacob Willmer, 39, from Richmond, London
Labour candidate Kevin Craig was also investigated after placing a bet that he would lose his bid to become an MP. However, he was cleared of any wrongdoing in December.
Met Police Investigation
The Metropolitan Police also became involved following the Gambling Commission’s initial findings. They launched an inquiry into whether any of the political figures or police officers involved had committed misconduct in public office after being alerted by the gambling regulator.
In August 2024, the Met confirmed that no charges would be brought against those under investigation. However, they continued to remain under scrutiny by the Gambling Commission for potential breaches of criminal gambling laws.
