Rishi Sunak’s former aide pleads guilty to general election betting scandal
A key aide to Rishi Sunak has pleaded guilty to gambling cheating, admitting using confidential information to place bets on the date of the 2024 general election.
Craig Williams, 41, a former Conservative MP for Montgomeryshire and Cardiff North, was a central figure in Mr Sunak’s inner circle.
He served as the former prime minister’s parliamentary private secretary and informed sensitive planning meetings held in Downing Street over the election calendar.
Mr Williams, of Llanfair Caereinion, Welshpool, Powys, pleaded guilty at a hearing at Southwark Crown Court on Monday.
Prosecutors said he bet £250, £100 and £22.50 on the election date.
When the scandal first emerged, Williams admitted he made a “huge error of judgment” when faced with a £100 bet.
He was the first MP for Cardiff North between 2015 and 2017 before losing his seat to Labor MP Anna McMorrin.
He was later elected MP for Montgomeryshire at the 2019 general election and lost his seat at the 2024 election following the betting scandal and as the Conservatives faced electoral wipeouts across the UK.
Prosecutor Zoe Johnson KC said three more cheating charges, which Williams denies, would be dropped when he is convicted.
The Privy Council member said Williams was “given a privileged position, having been party to a number of meetings both in Downing Street and at Conservative Party headquarters when the date of the general election was discussed”.
“He has now admitted that he allegedly used highly sensitive and confidential information to place bets and make a profit,” he said.
Amy Hind, 35, wife of the Conservative Party’s deputy digital director Anthony Hind, also pleaded guilty to election fraud.
He had placed bets of £10, £5 and £20 on the date of the election, having previously attempted to bet £767 and £700 on a July poll on 13 May 2024.
The court heard these attempts failed and the next day he tried to place a £700 bet, then managed to place a £100 bet on the July election at odds of 11-1.
A separate charge against the 37-year-old husband, that he cheated at gambling by tipping off his wife, was later dropped by prosecutors.
Hind will be sentenced by Westminster Recorder Judge Tony Baumgartner on October 23.
Williams will not be sentenced until the other defendants are tried.
Also at Monday’s hearing, 13 defendants pleaded not guilty to gambling fraud related to bets on the 2024 election.
Trials are set for September 2027 and January 2028.
The charges were laid by the Gambling Commission following the launch of Operation Scott to investigate gambling by Conservative Party politicians and staff ahead of the 2024 general election.
Those who deny the accusations include Russell George, 52, a member of the Montgomeryshire Senedd, and Thomas James, 39, a director of the Welsh Conservatives.
Also charged is Jeremy Hunt, 56, a close protection officer with the Met and part of the police team working in Downing Street.
The other defendants are Anthony Lee, 49, the Conservative Party’s campaign director, and his wife Laura Saunders, 38, who is international chairman at Tory HQ and is a parliamentary candidate for Bristol North-West.
Lee faces two charges for allegedly passing confidential information to his wife, who allegedly helped her place bets and cheat at gambling.
Also accused are Tory Party officials Nick Mason, 52, chief data officer Iain Makepeace, 48, head of design and print Iain Makepeace, his boss, chief marketing officer Simon Chatfield, 52, and deputy director of insights James Ward, 41.
Other defendants include Paul Place, 55, a Conservative Party consultant, political strategist and former parliamentary candidate Charlotte Lang, 37, and Jacob Willmer, 40, brother of Conservative Party deputy leader Toby Willmer.
Judge Baumgartner ordered the hearings to begin on September 6, 2027 and January 3, 2028.
The defendants were released on unconditional bail.
