A former Conservative MP and senior aide to Rishi Sunak is among two prominent Welsh politicians charged in connection with a criminal investigation into alleged betting on the timing of the 2024 General Election.
Craig Williams, who represented Montgomeryshire in Westminster from 2019 to 2024, has been charged alongside current Senedd Member for Montgomeryshire, Russell George. Both are accused of placing bets using privileged information ahead of the formal announcement of the election date.
The charges follow a lengthy investigation launched in June 2024, examining claims that individuals with access to confidential details exploited this information to place bets—an offence under Section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005, which covers cheating at gambling. Convictions under the Act can result in up to 51 weeks’ imprisonment in England and Wales, or an unlimited fine.
In total, 15 people with ties to the Conservative Party are facing charges in relation to the scandal, including Tom James, former Director of the Welsh Conservatives, and a former police officer.
Craig Williams, once regarded as one of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s most trusted advisers, previously served as MP for Cardiff North from 2015 to 2017 before returning to Parliament via Montgomeryshire. He was selected as the Conservative candidate for the newly formed Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr seat in the 2024 General Election, but was dropped by the party when the allegations surfaced. He eventually finished third in the poll.
Responding to the charges, the Welsh Conservative Party confirmed that Russell George has been suspended from the group.
Darren Millar MS, Leader of the Welsh Conservative Group, stated:
“Having been informed that Russell George MS has been charged with gambling related offences, I have taken the decision to suspend him from the Welsh Conservative Group in the Senedd.”
The case continues.
