Fifteen individuals, including political figures and former party officials, have been formally charged with offenses related to betting on the timing of the 2024 United Kingdom general election. The charges follow an investigation led by the Gambling Commission, which began in June 2024 amid suspicions that inside knowledge was used to place profitable wagers on the unexpected early election call.

According to the Gambling Commission, the accused allegedly exploited privileged information—specifically, advance awareness of the election date—to gain an unfair advantage in betting markets. Such conduct constitutes an offense under Section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005, which criminalizes cheating in gambling.

The list of those charged includes former Montgomeryshire MP Craig Williams, who served as an aide to then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Russell George, a Member of the Senedd representing the same constituency. Both have now been suspended from their party roles pending the outcome of judicial proceedings.

Laura Saunders, who ran as the Conservative candidate for Bristol North West in the 2024 election, and her husband Tony Lee, who served as the party’s campaign director, are also facing charges. A number of individuals closely associated with the Conservative Party’s campaign infrastructure have been implicated as well. These include Nick Mason, a former chief data officer; Simon Chatfield, ex-chief marketing officer; and Anthony Hind, previously the deputy digital director.

Others charged span a range of roles and regions. They are: Amy Hind, Charlotte Lang, Jeremy Hunt (a former police officer who worked in the Royalty and Specialist Protection Command), Thomas James, Iain Makepeace, Paul Place, James Ward, and Jacob Willmer.

All 15 individuals are scheduled to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court at 10am on Friday, 13 June 2025.

Political Fallout and Party Responses

The Conservative Party swiftly responded to the charges by suspending all staff members who have been implicated. A party spokesperson stated, “The Conservative 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.”

The spokesperson also emphasized that these incidents occurred under prior leadership in May 2024 and reaffirmed that the party is cooperating fully with the Gambling Commission to ensure a transparent and timely conclusion to the investigation.

In response to the controversy, Labour Party chair Ellie Reeves commented, “This is a very serious development. The British people will expect that anyone found guilty of wrongdoing faces the full force of the law.” She called on Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch to unequivocally denounce the use of insider information for personal financial gain, stating, “No ifs, no buts.”

Meanwhile, the Welsh Conservatives have echoed a stance of procedural neutrality. Darren Millar, the group’s leader, described the suspension of Senedd member Russell George as a “neutral act pending the outcome of the justice process.” Bernard Gentry, chair of the Welsh Conservatives, said it was “disappointing that these individuals have been charged,” but stressed the importance of allowing the legal system to take its course.

Background of the Case

The political betting controversy surfaced after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak unexpectedly called a summer election for 4 July 2024, reversing widespread speculation that the vote would be held in the autumn. Shortly thereafter, reports emerged suggesting that individuals connected to the Conservative campaign may have used early knowledge of the election date to place strategic bets.

One of the first figures publicly named was Craig Williams. In June 2024, Williams admitted: “I clearly made a huge error of judgement, that’s for sure, and I apologize.” However, he declined to confirm whether he had inside information at the time he placed his bet, citing the ongoing investigation.

The Metropolitan Police had launched an independent investigation into the matter but concluded their inquiry in August 2024, citing insufficient grounds to pursue charges of misconduct in public office. However, the Gambling Commission pressed forward and has now brought criminal charges under its own regulatory authority. Under Sections 27 and 28 of the Gambling Act, the Commission is empowered to investigate and prosecute gambling-related offences. If convicted under Section 42, the accused could face significant penalties, including fines or up to two years in prison.