A former Conservative lawmaker, Craig Williams, has pleaded guilty to cheating at gambling after using insider information to place bets on the date of a U.K. general election. Williams, who served as the parliamentary private secretary to then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, was one of over a dozen individuals charged in connection with a betting scandal surrounding the timing of Britain’s last general election.
Betting on election dates is legal in the U.K., and wagers on when a prime minister will call a general election have become increasingly popular. While lawmakers are permitted to place bets, they are prohibited from using confidential information to do so. Williams’ actions came under scrutiny when Sunak announced the election date for July 4, 2024, surprising many who anticipated a later date in the fall. The announcement coincided with a chaotic press event in which Sunak was caught in a downpour outside 10 Downing Street, and allegations arose that several individuals connected to the Conservative Party had placed bets shortly before the announcement.
Following the election, which resulted in a significant victory for the Labour Party after 14 years of Conservative rule, Williams admitted in Southwark Crown Court that he had used confidential information to place bets. Prosecutors revealed that he placed three separate bets ranging from £22.50 ($29.80) to £250 ($331). In addition, he acknowledged placing a £100 ($132) bet on a July election shortly before it was made public.
In a video released on social media in June 2024, Williams expressed remorse for his actions, stating, “I committed an error of judgment, not an offense, and I want to reiterate my apology directly to you.” During the court proceedings, prosecutor Zoe Johnson indicated that three additional charges against him would be dropped upon sentencing.
Johnson emphasized the seriousness of Williams’ plea, noting that he accepted he had used sensitive information to profit from his bets. Other individuals, including members of the Conservative Party who were in power at the time, as well as a police officer, are still facing charges, which could lead to a potential two-year prison sentence if convicted. A dozen other defendants pleaded not guilty to cheating at gambling and are scheduled for trials in September 2027 and January 2028.
The case has also implicated Amy Hind, the wife of Conservative deputy digital director Anthony Hind, who pleaded guilty to cheating at betting and is set for sentencing on October 23. A separate charge against her husband for allegedly passing information to her was dropped.
