Anthony Lee, the Conservative Party’s former director of campaigning, and his wife Laura have pleaded guilty to cheating at gambling following an investigation into the timing of the 2024 general election.
At Southwark Crown Court on Thursday, Anthony Lee admitted to two offences, while Laura Lee, who was a parliamentary candidate at the time, pleaded guilty to one. The couple exploited insider knowledge after Anthony disclosed when former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak intended to call the vote. Laura subsequently placed wagers on the specific date of the election.
Both individuals are scheduled to be sentenced in October. Their case is part of a broader probe involving multiple former Conservative insiders. Trials for ten other defendants are set to begin in September 2027 and January 2028.
The scandal also involves former MP Craig Williams, Sunak’s closest parliamentary aide during the period. Williams pleaded guilty in June, admitting he used “highly sensitive and confidential information” to place bets totaling £372.50 across three separate wagers. He described his actions as a “huge error of judgment” when details of the inquiry first emerged in June 2024.
Williams is awaiting sentencing at a later date. Sunak’s surprise announcement to dissolve parliament caught many Conservative MPs off guard, as most had anticipated an autumn poll.
I wonder how much money they actually made from this. The article doesn’t specify the bet amounts, which is surprising.
Rishi Sunak must have been furious when his team got caught. Another scandal to add to the pile of Tory controversies.
It’s wild that they bet on the exact date, not just the winner. Seems like a pretty specific kind of insider trading.