Craig Williams, a former Conservative MP and aide to Rishi Sunak, has been charged with cheating at gambling related to the date of the 2024 general election.

At 39 years old, Williams, who previously served as the MP for Montgomeryshire and Cardiff North, appeared in Westminster Magistrates Court wearing a black suit and grey tie.

Prosecutor Sam Stein KC stated that the defendants allegedly placed bets using insider information about the election date, constituting a criminal offence.

All 15 defendants, including Williams, appeared in court on June 13, 2025, and denied the allegations of fraudulent use of insider information.

Twelve defendants, including George and James, indicated not guilty pleas, while others, including Williams, did not state their pleas.

Key figures charged alongside Williams include Tory Senedd member Russell George, Conservative Party data officer Nick Mason, and marketing officer Simon Chatfield.

Investigations revealed that several of the bettors were either associates of Williams or members of the Conservative Party apparatus, including a police officer from Sunak's protection detail.

At the time of the scandal, Williams served as Sunak's parliamentary private secretary, highlighting his close ties to the government.

On May 22, 2024, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that the general election would take place on July 4, 2024, changing earlier expectations of a later date.

Sunak provided a witness statement confirming that elections were planned for the second half of 2024 without specifying a date.

The magistrate did not accept that the offenses were trivial and referred the case to the London Crown Court, which may take up to three years to hear due to its heavy workload.

The next court appearance for the defendants is scheduled for July 11, 2025, at Southwark Crown Court.