Three Welsh Conservatives Face Legal Action for Wagering Violations
A Conservative Member of the Senedd (MS), the party’s Welsh director, and a former MP are among 15 individuals who have been accused of betting offences by the Gambling Commission. An investigation has been ongoing into alleged deception in connection with bets placed on the timing of the last year’s general election. Craig Williams, aged 39 and from Welshpool, as well as the former Tory MP for Montgomeryshire, and Russell George, aged 50 and from Newtown, who represents the same constituency in the Senedd, are scheduled to appear in court in June. Additionally, Thomas James, aged 38 and based in Brecon who serves as the director of the Welsh Conservatives, has also been charged.
According to the commission, the focus of the investigation was on individuals suspected of utilizing confidential information to secure an unfair advantage in betting markets, which is considered a criminal act. The Conservatives in Westminster have confirmed that Mr. James, a paid staff member, has been suspended “with immediate effect.” Furthermore, the leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, Darren Millar, announced that Mr. George has been suspended from the party’s group in the Welsh Parliament. Despite this development, Mr. George had been reselected as the lead candidate for the party in the 2026 Senedd elections for Gwynedd Maldwyn, a position he has held since 2011. The allegations have sparked a resignation from a senior voluntary official in Mid and West Wales, with Charlie Evans citing a “moral decay” within the party and describing the betting scandal as a nightmare for Welsh Tories during the general election campaign last year.
Mr. Williams previously served as an aide to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in the last Parliament. Following the announcement of the investigation during the election campaign last summer, the Tory party withdrew their support for him as a candidate and suspended Mr. Williams. Alongside Mr. Williams, other individuals facing charges include Laura Saunders, a former Conservative parliamentary candidate in Bristol North West, and her partner Anthony Lee, a former director of campaigning for the Conservatives. Nick Mason, a former chief data officer for the party, is also on the list. Various other individuals have been named and charged with offences under the Gambling Act.
Amid the unfolding legal proceedings, President of the Mid and West Wales Conservatives, Charlie Evans, decided to resign. He expressed that the news reignited “painful memories” related to the personnel in Mid and West Wales and the perceived moral issues within the party. Reacting to the charges, a spokesperson for Reform in Wales emphasized the importance of integrity in public office and expressed concern over the reselection of Mr. George, characterizing it as a double standard eroding trust in politics. Labour’s Ellie Reeves emphasized the seriousness of the development and underscored the expectation for accountability and transparency in addressing any wrongdoing. The Conservative Party issued a statement affirming the need for integrity in the political realm and indicated that individuals facing charges have been suspended pending the conclusion of the investigation by the Gambling Commission
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