Ex-Tory Campaign Chief Admits Cheating in Election Betting Scandal Using Secret Date Information

The former Conservative Party director of campaigning has admitted using confidential information about the timing of the 2024 UK general election to place bets before the date was publicly announced.

Anthony Lee, 49, pleaded guilty to two offences of cheating at gambling at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday, 10 September, according to the BBC and the UK's Gambling Commission.

His wife, Laura Lee, formerly known as Laura Saunders, also pleaded guilty to one charge. Saunders was a Conservative parliamentary candidate for Bristol North West and had served as the party's head of international affairs.

The couple's admissions form part of a wider investigation into allegations that political insiders used privileged information to bet on when then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak would call the general election.

Confidential Election Plans Used For Betting

The 2024 general election was eventually held on 4 July, but Sunak did not publicly announce the date until 22 May 2024. According to the Gambling Commission, significant planning for a 4 July election had already taken place at Downing Street and Conservative Party headquarters before the announcement.

Lee, who was the Conservative Party's director of campaigning, was involved in sensitive discussions about the timing of the election. The regulator said Lee used information obtained through his senior position to place bets and then passed the confidential information to his wife. Saunders subsequently placed bets on the election date using that information, the Gambling Commission said.

Betting operators offered wagers on when the general election would take place before the date had been officially announced. The Gambling Commission said such markets were not intended to be exploited by people with inside knowledge of the election plans.

Former Sunak Aide Also Pleaded Guilty

The latest guilty pleas follow an admission by former Conservative MP Craig Williams, who served as Sunak's parliamentary private secretary. Williams pleaded guilty in June to cheating at gambling after placing bets on the date of the 2024 election.

According to previous court reporting, Williams had been part of Sunak's inner circle and attended meetings where the timing of the election was discussed. The former MP placed bets of £250, £100 and £22.50 on the election date, the court was previously told.

Williams had earlier acknowledged making a 'huge error of judgment' after reports emerged in 2024 that he had bet on a July election shortly before Sunak announced the date.

Amy Hind, the wife of former Conservative deputy digital director Anthony Hind, has also admitted cheating at gambling. She placed several bets on a July election, including a successful £100 wager at odds of 11-1, according to previous court proceedings.

More Defendants Face Trial

The Gambling Commission said Lee, Laura Lee and Hind are due to be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on 23 October. Williams will be sentenced at a later date because proceedings involving other defendants are still pending. The regulator said 10 other defendants are due to face trials in September 2027 and January 2028.

The investigation, known as Operation Scott, was launched after allegations that politicians and political staff had used confidential information to gain an advantage in election betting.

Under Section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005, cheating at gambling is a criminal offence. Those convicted can face significant penalties, including imprisonment.

The scandal has raised questions about the handling of confidential election information inside the Conservative Party and Downing Street.

For the individuals who have pleaded guilty, sentencing will now determine the consequences of using information that was unavailable to ordinary bettors before the July 4 election date became public.