Former MP admits cashing in through election bets

Montgomeryshire’s former MP Craig Williams has admitted that he placed bets on the date of the last generation election using insider information through his Parliamentary position.

The former Conservative MP, 41, was also an aide to then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak before the election was called and it was alleged that he placed £250, £100, and £22.50 bets on the election date, “using highly sensitive and confidential information”, according to the prosecution.

Mr Williams, from Llanfair Caereinion, entered his guilty plea at a hearing at Southwark Crown Court yesterday and will face sentencing once co-defendants have stood trial in January 2028.

One of those is former Conservative Member of the Senedd, Russell George, who has always denied the charge.

They were among 15 people charged with betting offences by the Gambling Commission following “Operation Scott”, which was launched to investigate gambling by politicians and employees of the Conservative Party in the lead-up to the 2024 general election.

Mr Williams lost his seat at the general election when the scandal broke and the Conservatives kicked him out of the party. He subsequently stood as an independent but placed well behind Labour’s Steve Witherden, ending Conservative and Liberal Democrat domination of Montgomeryshire.

PICTURE: Mr Williams was a rising star in the Conservative Party and was close to prime ministers, including Boris Johnson.