Rishi Sunak’s former aide, Craig Williams, has admitted to committing gambling fraud by placing bets on the date of the 2024 general election. Williams, a former Tory MP for Montgomeryshire and Cardiff North, confessed to utilizing confidential information to wager on the election timing. He disclosed his guilt during a court session at Southwark Crown Court, where it was revealed that he placed bets of £250, £100, and £22.50 on the election date.
Williams, who served as the ex-PM’s parliamentary private secretary and was closely associated with Mr. Sunak’s core team, participated in pre-election planning meetings at Downing Street leading up to the 2024 election. Following the exposure of the scandal, Williams, who lost his seat in the election amid a significant Conservative defeat, admitted to a “significant error in judgment” regarding a £100 bet.
The incident, combined with various missteps during the election campaign, contributed to the downfall of Mr. Sunak’s unsuccessful bid, resulting in the worst-ever general election loss for the Tories in July 2024. Prosecutor Zoe Johnson KC revealed that Williams is set to be sentenced after pleading guilty to one charge of cheating, while three additional cheating charges will be dismissed. Johnson highlighted Williams’ access to confidential information during key meetings at Downing Street and Conservative headquarters related to the election date discussions.
Furthermore, Amy Hind, the wife of Conservative deputy digital director Anthony Hind, also confessed to gambling fraud concerning the election date. She placed bets ranging from £5 to £20 before attempting to wager larger amounts on a July poll. Hind’s failed attempts were followed by a successful £100 bet on a July election at odds of 11-1. Prosecutors dropped a cheating charge against her husband, who allegedly provided information to aid her bets.
Amy Hind is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Tony Baumgartner on October 23, while Williams will await sentencing until his co-defendants have faced trial. During the court hearing, 12 co-defendants pleaded not guilty to charges of gambling fraud related to the 2024 election.