It’s alleged they used confidential information to gamble on the timing of the 2024 general election
07:29, 13 Jun 2025Updated 07:31, 13 Jun 2025
Westminster Magistrates’ Court(Image: PA Archive/PA Images)
A married couple from Bristol are due in court today charged with gambling offences relating to suspicious betting activity relating to the 2024 general election.
Anthony Lee, 47, and Laura Saunders, 37, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court later this morning.
Saunders and Lee were charged after bets were placed on the timing of the 2024 general election, according to the Gambling Commission.
Saunders was the Conservative candidate for Bristol North West during the election.
Saunders was suspended by the party nine days before polling day and the seat was won by Labour MP Darren Jones.
Lee, who is known as Tony Lee, was the campaign chief for the Conservatives.
Lee took a leave of absence during the campaign when he was implicated in the scandal.
Former Tory candidate for Bristol North West Laura Saunders
Among the 15 who will appear in court today is former Tory MP Craig Williams, who was the MP for Montgomeryshire.
Russell George, the Tory Senedd member for Montgomeryshire, and Nick Mason, a former chief data officer for the party, are also facing charges.
The investigation, which began in June 2024 as the election campaign took place, focused on “individuals suspected of using confidential information”. It is alleged that they had advance knowledge of the proposed election date.
This information was used to gain an unfair advantage in betting markets, according to the Gambling Commission.
Such actions would be considered a criminal offence under the Gambling Act 2005.
Court proceedings are expected to begin at 10am.