Ex-Tory MP in court over election betting scandal

A former Tory MP has appeared in court over his involvement in the general election betting scandal.

- ARCHIE MITCHELL and MILLIE COOKE

Craig Williams, who gave no indication of plea, was among 15 people who appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged with gambling offences over betting on the date of the 2024 election.

The scandal over the alleged placing of bets on the timing of the election prior to Rishi Sunak’s surprise decision to call the national ballot early engulfed the Conservative Party’s campaign last summer.

At the time, Mr Williams was serving as Mr Sunak’s parliamentary private secretary. Russell George, the Tory Senedd member for Montgomeryshire, was also charged, along with the Conservative Party’s chief data officer, Nick Mason, and the party’s chief marketing officer, Simon Chatfield.

Laura Saunders, who was the Tory candidate for Bristol North West at the election and her husband Tony Lee – the Conservative Party’s campaign chief – were also both charged.