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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c056v0m56pyo
Ex-MP faces two-year wait for betting offences trial
A former Conservative MP faces a wait of more than two years for trial after being charged with betting offences, a court has heard.
Craig Williams, 40, who was previously the Tory MP for both Montgomeryshire and Cardiff North, appeared at London's Southwark Crown Court on Friday after an investigation into alleged bets on the date of the 2024 election, but did not indicate a plea.
Mr Williams, of Llanfair Caereinion in Welshpool, Powys, was also parliamentary private secretary to Rishi Sunak during his time as prime minister.
He and his 14 co-defendants could face up to two years in prison for the offences if they are convicted.
Mr Williams was first elected as the MP for Cardiff North between 2015 and 2017 before he lost his seat.
He was then elected MP for Montgomeryshire at the 2019 general election, and lost his seat in July last year.
The court heard that, before the general election was called, planning took place at Downing Street and Conservative campaign headquarters.
The 15 defendants are alleged to have placed bets based on confidential information gained from those rooms, or enabled others to place bets by passing that information on.
Twelve others, including Russell George, a former Conservative and now independent member of the Welsh Senedd, indicated they would deny the charges.
Because of the large number of defendants, two trials will take place, with the first on 6 September 2027, and the second on 3 January 2028.
Mr Williams will be in the 2028 trial.
There were gasps in court as prosecutor Sam Stein KC set out the timetable for the case.
He told the court that even the proposed schedule was optimistic.
The court will hear an application to dismiss the charges on January 19 next year.
The charges came after "Operation Scott" was launched to investigate gambling by politicians and employees of the Conservative Party in the lead-up to the 2024 general election.
Mr Sunak, who has provided a witness statement in this case, had noted that elections would take place in the second half of the year but had not given a date.
Prosecuting on behalf of the Gambling Commission, Mr Stein told a previous hearing the operation was launched to investigate those "with the benefit of confidential or insider information" about the date of the 2024 general election.
"The prosecution says that placing bets with inside information is a criminal offence, namely cheating," he added.
Those found guilty of an offence under section 42 of the Gambling Act, external could face a fine or a jail term of up to two years.
Ex-MP faces two-year wait for betting offences trial
A former Conservative MP faces a wait of more than two years for trial after being charged with betting offences, a court has heard.
Craig Williams, 40, who was previously the Tory MP for both Montgomeryshire and Cardiff North, appeared at London's Southwark Crown Court on Friday after an investigation into alleged bets on the date of the 2024 election, but did not indicate a plea.
Mr Williams, of Llanfair Caereinion in Welshpool, Powys, was also parliamentary private secretary to Rishi Sunak during his time as prime minister.
He and his 14 co-defendants could face up to two years in prison for the offences if they are convicted.
Mr Williams was first elected as the MP for Cardiff North between 2015 and 2017 before he lost his seat.
He was then elected MP for Montgomeryshire at the 2019 general election, and lost his seat in July last year.
The court heard that, before the general election was called, planning took place at Downing Street and Conservative campaign headquarters.
The 15 defendants are alleged to have placed bets based on confidential information gained from those rooms, or enabled others to place bets by passing that information on.
Twelve others, including Russell George, a former Conservative and now independent member of the Welsh Senedd, indicated they would deny the charges.
Because of the large number of defendants, two trials will take place, with the first on 6 September 2027, and the second on 3 January 2028.
Mr Williams will be in the 2028 trial.
There were gasps in court as prosecutor Sam Stein KC set out the timetable for the case.
He told the court that even the proposed schedule was optimistic.
The court will hear an application to dismiss the charges on January 19 next year.
The charges came after "Operation Scott" was launched to investigate gambling by politicians and employees of the Conservative Party in the lead-up to the 2024 general election.
Mr Sunak, who has provided a witness statement in this case, had noted that elections would take place in the second half of the year but had not given a date.
Prosecuting on behalf of the Gambling Commission, Mr Stein told a previous hearing the operation was launched to investigate those "with the benefit of confidential or insider information" about the date of the 2024 general election.
"The prosecution says that placing bets with inside information is a criminal offence, namely cheating," he added.
Those found guilty of an offence under section 42 of the Gambling Act, external could face a fine or a jail term of up to two years.
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It seems to me the most important parts of that story are...
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Because of the large number of defendants, two trials will take place, with the first on 6 September 2027, and the second on 3 January 2028.
Mr Sunak, who has provided a witness statement in this case, had noted that elections would take place in the second half of the year but had not given a date. Prosecuting on behalf of the Gambling Commission, Mr Stein told a previous hearing the operation was launched to investigate those "with the benefit of confidential or insider information" about the date of the 2024 general election. "The prosecution says that placing bets with inside information is a criminal offence, namely cheating," he added. Those found guilty of an offence under section 42 of the Gambling Act, external could face a fine or a jail term of up to two years. |
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GC trying it on imo, amusing as it might be to see every racing owner, trainer and pundit locked up for inside info.
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won't be enough prison places left to take in all the racing family.
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Ex-MP Craig Williams pleads guilty over general election betting offence
Former Conservative MP Craig Williams has pleaded guilty to cheating at gambling by placing bets on the date of the 2024 general election. The 41-year-old was the MP for Montgomeryshire and an aide to then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak before the election was called. Prosecutors said Williams bet £250, £100, and £22.50 on the election date. Sunak's decision to call the poll was a surprise to many, including many Conservative MPs, who were expecting an autumn date. When details of the scandal first emerged in June 2024, Williams admitted making a "huge error of judgment" by betting on the date of the election just days before Sunak called it. He served as Sunak's parliamentary private secretary, which ensured he was part of the then-PM's inner circle. Williams entered his guilty plea at a hearing at Southwark Crown Court on Monday. From BBC News at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3ry1zr8nw2o |
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Will he need to pay back the winning if convicted?
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Where's the line? Is being cleverer than your bookie an offence? Is inside info an offence? Is reading Aidan's stable tour in the Racing Post an offence?
Might be one for the lawyer chap on the AK podcast. |
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Here is the Gambling Commission's take on various degrees of inside information, from last December:-
https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/policy/misuse-of-inside-information-policy-position-paper/appendix-1-misuse-of-inside-information |
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I think with a court case hanging over him for over two years is a punishment itself before the actual trial and conviction - a foregone conclusion. No custodial sentence for sure but nevertheless, a pillock to think he'd get away with it in this digital age on something so definitively obvious given his then occupation.
How many greedy ones were implicated? Would they all arrive in a chartered bus? |
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Ramruma 29 Jun 26 16:31
Ex-MP Craig Williams pleads guilty over general election betting offence impossible123 29 Jun 26 16:40 Will he need to pay back the winning if convicted? jeezzus fck christ man..thicker than gemma collins ankles. |
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'I was told a horse would lose' and laid it accordingly.
Where's the precedent exactly? Courts would be sitting until 2150. 'I was told Trump would bomb Iran.' Got buying and selling my shares accordingly. Courts will be sitting until 2250. B0ll0x waste of public money. |
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Implausible stands alone as "Thicket of the Year"
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