Former Tory aides and insiders charged with betting offences in UK election scandal
Fifteen people, including a former MP, a police officer, and multiple senior Conservative Party figures, have been charged with criminal betting offences by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).
At the core of the scandal is the July 2024 general election. The charges arise from an investigation into bets placed using insider knowledge of when the Prime Minister would call the general election. This saga sparked political outrage and tore through the Conservative campaign at its weakest moment.
Cheating allegations linked to snap election timing
The UKGC investigation began in June 2024, after former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called a surprise election for 4 July, a decision that many political commentators expected later in the year. Just days before the announcement, individuals with ties to government and Conservative Party HQ placed bets.
These bets caught the attention of regulators. The Commission stated its probe “focused on individuals suspected of using confidential information to gain an unfair advantage in betting markets.” Such conduct constitutes cheating under Section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005 and carries a maximum prison sentence of two years.
SiGMA News previously reported that the Gambling Commission had already spoken to senior political figures, including former deputy PM Oliver Dowden, as the scope of the probe widened across Westminster. Dowden was never a suspect and did not place any bets. There was no suspicion of wrongdoing, and his interview was conducted to assist in the investigation into others.
Craig Williams, the former MP for Montgomeryshire and parliamentary private secretary to Sunak, is among those charged. He admitted to placing a “flutter” on last year’s election date. Williams placed a £100 wager just three days before it was formally announced.
At the time, Williams called it a “serious error of judgement” but denied any criminal intent. He was dropped as a Conservative candidate shortly after the scandal broke in the press.
Conservative campaign team rocked by internal charges
Several others on the UKGC’s charge sheet held senior campaign or party data roles:
- Laura Saunders, former Bristol North West candidate
- Anthony Lee, her partner and ex-Conservative campaign director
- Nick Mason, the former chief data officer
- Simon Chatfield, a former chief marketing officer
Also charged is Russell George, a Member of the Senedd in Wales. The Welsh Conservatives have now suspended George, describing it as a “neutral act pending the outcome of the justice process.”
A Conservative spokesperson said any party staff members who had been charged had been suspended from their roles, adding: “These incidents took place in May last year. Our party is now under new leadership and cooperating fully with the Gambling Commission.”
Police, data staff and advisers were all named in the probe
One of the most high-profile charges is that of Jeremy Hunt, a former police officer who had been part of Sunak’s protection detail. The Metropolitan Police opened their own inquiry in 2024 but dropped it in August. Hunt remains one of the few law enforcement figures facing criminal charges in this matter.
Other individuals charged include:
- Amy Hind and Anthony Hind, both of Loughton, Essex
- Thomas James of Brecon, Wales
- Charlotte Lang of Brixton
- Iain Makepeace of Newcastle
- Paul Place of Hammersmith
- James Ward of East London
- Jacob Willmer, a former adviser from Richmond
All 15 are due to appear at Westminster Magistrate’s Court on 13 June 2025 at 10 am. This follows an earlier SiGMA News report on the investigation’s early stages, when just five individuals were under scrutiny for allegedly placing insider wagers on the snap election’s timing.
Election fallout damages already-wounded party
The timing of the scandal proved disastrous for the Conservatives. Public trust eroded further, and Labour used the affair to sharpen its messaging on integrity and reform. Labour’s Ellie Reeves, chair of the party, said: “This is a very serious development. The British people will expect that anyone found guilty of wrongdoing faces the full force of the law. Kemi Badenoch must make crystal clear that anyone found guilty of using insider information to cheat the system to try to enrich themselves has no place in the Conservative Party.”
The Commission said it would continue to pursue “robust action against illegal betting practices,” reinforcing its commitment to fairness and public trust in British gambling regulation.
Labour also faced scrutiny during the investigation. A former Labour candidate, Kevin Craig, admitted betting on his electoral defeat. However, he was cleared of wrongdoing in December.
Meanwhile, Conservative Cabinet Minister Alister Jack told the media he won over £2,000 betting on the election. He was not among those charged, insisting his wagers did not breach UKGC rules.
Where ballots meet betting slips and justice rolls the dice
The scandal exposed deep ethical rot within the UK political machinery. The judge hasn’t spoken yet, but the public’s gavel came down during the 2024 general election. It wasn’t a soft landing for many.
This case presents a simple message that betting offences come with consequences. No one is or should be above the rules. And after years of political sleaze, spin and shortcuts, it’s fitting that this might be what finally lands some of them in court.
