A former Conservative MP and 14 others have been charged with gambling offences following an investigation into bets placed on the timing of the 2024 General Election.
The Gambling Commission on Monday said ex Montgomeryshire MP Craig Williams was among the 15 people who will face court over the scandal.
They have all been charged with cheating under Section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005, which is a criminal offence.
Mr Williams and a number of other people linked to the Conservative Party were reported to have made bets on the election date before it was called by then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Williams, a senior aide to Mr Sunak during his time in No10, admitted at the time to having a "flutter" on the election date just days before the surprise announcement in May last year.
Among others facing charges are Russell George, 50, the Senedd member for Montgomeryshire, and Nick Mason, a former chief data officer for the Conservative Party.
Laura Saunders, who was Tory candidate for Bristol North West at the election and is married to the party's campaign chief, has also been accused of the same offence.
Former police officer Jeremy Hunt, 55, from Horne, Horley, has also been charged.
The investigation, which started in June last year, looked into individuals suspected of using advanced knowledge of the proposed election date to gain an unfair advantage in betting markets.
The other 12 people accused of cheating are:
- Simon Chatfield, 51, from Lower Bourne, Farnham
- Russell George, 50, from Newtown, Wales
- Amy Hind, 34, from Loughton, Essex
- Anthony Hind, 36, from Loughton, Essex
- Thomas James, 38, from Brecon, Wales
- Charlotte Lang, 36, from Brixton
- Anthony Lee, 47, from Bristol
- Iain Makepeace, 47, from Newcastle
- Nick Mason, 51, from Milton on Stour, Gillingham
- Paul Place, 53, from Hammersmith, London
- James Ward, 40, from London, E11
- Jacob Willmer, 39, from Richmond, London, TW9
They are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday, June 13.
George was suspended from the Welsh Conservative group after he was charged.
Welsh Conservatives leader Darren Millar said the suspension was "a neutral act pending the outcome of the justice process".
A Conservative Party spokesman said: “The Conservative Party believes that those working in politics must act with integrity. Current members of staff who have been charged are being suspended with immediate effect.
“Our Party is now under new leadership and we are cooperating fully with the Gambling Commission to ensure that their investigation can conclude swiftly and transparently.”
