Craig Williams, a former Conservative MP and close aide to former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, pleaded guilty on Monday to cheating at gambling by using confidential information to place bets on the date of the 2024 general election. Williams, 41, who served as MP for Montgomeryshire and previously Cardiff North, admitted the charge at Southwark Crown Court.
Details of the Betting Offence
Prosecutors revealed that Williams placed three bets totaling £372.50 on the election date: £250, £100, and £22.50. He was part of Sunak's inner circle as parliamentary private secretary and attended planning meetings in Downing Street where the election date was discussed. Prosecutor Zoe Johnson KC stated that Williams, a Privy Council member, was "given a privileged position" and used "highly sensitive and confidential information to place bets and to profit."
Political Fallout and Loss of Seat
When the scandal first emerged, Williams admitted making a "huge error of judgment" over a £100 bet. He lost his Montgomeryshire seat at the 2024 election amid the betting scandal and the Conservatives' nationwide defeat. He had previously been MP for Cardiff North from 2015 to 2017 before losing to Labour's Anna McMorrin.
Co-Defendants and Sentencing
Williams will not be sentenced until co-defendants stand trial, with trials set for September 2027 and January 2028. Amy Hind, 35, wife of Conservative deputy digital director Anthony Hind, also pleaded guilty to cheating on the election date, placing bets of £10, £5, and £20, and attempting to stake larger amounts. A charge against her husband was dropped. Hind is due to be sentenced on October 23.
Wider Investigation and Charges
The Gambling Commission's Operation Scott investigated gambling by politicians and Conservative Party employees. Twelve co-defendants pleaded not guilty, including Russell George, a Senedd member; Thomas James, director of the Welsh Conservatives; Jeremy Hunt, a Met police close protection officer; Anthony Lee, Conservative Party director of campaigning, and his wife Laura Saunders; and party officials Nick Mason, Iain Makepeace, Simon Chatfield, James Ward, Paul Place, Charlotte Lang, and Jacob Willmer. All have been granted unconditional bail.
