Craig Williams, a former MP and aide to ex-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, is facing charges of cheating at gambling related to bets placed on the date of the 2024 general election.

Williams and 14 other defendants, including notable figures such as Nick Mason and Simon Chatfield, appeared at Southwark Crown Court, with most entering not guilty pleas, while Williams and some others have yet to respond.

The defendants, which include former party officials and politicians like Russell George and Thomas James, are accused of placing bets with insider information about the election date, a criminal offense.

The case involves 15 co-defendants, and the trial is scheduled to begin on September 6, 2027, with a second trial set for January 3, 2028, reflecting the complexity and number of parties involved.

The charges stem from allegations that the defendants engaged in cheating by using insider information to place bets, with some already pleading not guilty.

If convicted, the defendants could face up to two years in prison, and the court will hear a motion to dismiss the charges on January 19, 2026.

Williams, who served as parliamentary private secretary to Rishi Sunak and was an MP for Cardiff North and Montgomeryshire, lost his seat in July 2024.

Williams's political career included serving as MP for Cardiff North from 2015 to 2017 and for Montgomeryshire from 2019 until he lost both seats, and he is now among those facing serious legal charges.

Russell George, a former Tory member and co-defendant, has been suspended from the Conservative Party pending the court's decision and has announced he will not seek re-election next year.

Prosecutor Sam Stein KC emphasized that betting with insider information constitutes a criminal offense of cheating, highlighting the seriousness of the allegations.

The trial's extensive schedule reflects the gravity of the case, with proceedings set for September 6, 2027, and January 3, 2028, due to the large number of defendants involved.

Other defendants associated with the Conservative Party and government roles include Iain Makepeace and Jacob Wilmer, indicating the case's broad implications within political circles.