Rishi Sunak’s former assistant has admitted to engaging in fraudulent gambling activities by placing bets on the date of the 2024 general election at Southwark Crown Court.
Craig Williams, a former Conservative MP for Montgomeryshire and Cardiff North, confessed to utilizing confidential details to gamble on the election’s timing. He entered a guilty plea during a court session at Southwark Crown Court, acknowledging placing bets amounting to £250, £100, and £22.50 on the election date.
Initially, Williams, who lost his parliamentary seat during the election due to the Conservative party’s electoral setbacks, acknowledged his mistake when questioned about a £100 bet, describing it as a significant lapse in judgment.
Prosecutors disclosed that while Williams denies three additional cheating allegations, they will be dismissed upon his sentencing. They highlighted Williams’ privileged access, as a member of the Privy Council, to sensitive discussions regarding the general election date at both Downing Street and Conservative headquarters.
Amy Hind, the wife of Conservative deputy digital director Anthony Hind, also confessed to cheating on the election date by placing bets varying from £10 to £20. Her attempts to stake large sums for a July poll were unsuccessful initially, but she eventually succeeded in placing a £100 bet at 11-1 odds for a July election.
Hind is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Tony Baumgartner on October 23, while Williams’ sentencing will be postponed until his co-defendants have undergone trial. During the court session, 12 co-defendants pleaded not guilty to charges of cheating at gambling related to bets on the 2024 election.
