15 to face trial in UK election betting scandal

[The Buzz]

Fifteen individuals, accused of using insider knowledge to bet on the UK's 2024 general election date, appeared in court last week. Among them, twelve individuals, including senior Tory marketing chief Simon Chatfield, former chief data officer Nick Mason, and candidate Laura Saunders, pleaded not guilty.

The remaining three entered no plea. The UK Gambling Commission alleges that the group used confidential information to gain an unfair advantage, a criminal offense under the Gambling Act 2005. All 15 are scheduled to reappear at Southwark Crown Court on July 11.

From Covers.com:

The accused appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday, June 13. They are charged with the offence of cheating under Section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005, which is a criminal offence.

Former MP Craig Williams was one of three who did not enter a plea on June 13. Jacob Wilmer, a former government special adviser, and former police officer Jeremy Hunt also gave no indication of plea.

The remaining 12 indicated that they would deny the charges. These included another former Conservative, Russell George, and Thomas James, the suspended director of the Welsh Conservatives. Nick Mason, the party’s former chief data officer, and former chief marketing officer of the party, Simon Chatfield, also denied the charges.

Others pleading not guilty included Charlotte Lang, Anthony Lee, Laura Saunders, Iain Makepeace, Amy Hind, Anthony Hind, Paul Place and James Ward.

Read more here: https://www.covers.com/industry/fift...l-june-16-2025

[newcustomeroffer]

If found guilty it will be interesting to see what the punishment is for this. A slap on the wrist in the form of a small fine most likely but we shall see.

[dannyx]

I wonder why they bet with Ladbrokers and not with offshore bookies.

[NoDepositCasinos]

If found guilty it will be interesting to see what the punishment is for this. A slap on the wrist in the form of a small fine most likely but we shall see.

I agree, and I bet they’re not too worried about facing a harsher penalty. What I find hilarious and senseless is how blatantly they did it, causing this whole scandal over a mere £100 bet.

[Sherlock]

I wonder why they bet with Ladbrokers and not with offshore bookies.

Because they are idiots. You do not need to do a research, when politicians are involved. People generally are always idiots and idiocy is the usual suspect when looking for a reason of doing anything. But when politicians are involved, it is a certainty.

Why would some retard, who is betting 100 GBP and risking whole his life, would do some offshore market analysis?

There is no other explanation than a pure idiocy. People tend to look for conspiracies, where explanation is just simple.

(It is also idiotic not to take politicians ex ante as idiots. To behave like that is an instinctive defense against depression that comes from reality that needs to be hidden. The reality is that the most important decisions for society is always done by retards. Both politicians and ordinary people have a good reasons to hide that reality.)