Photo credit: www.theguardian.com
A Welsh politician has announced his intention to step down from candidacy in the upcoming Senedd election following his involvement in a betting scandal regarding the timing of the 2024 general election. Russell George, representing Montgomeryshire for the Conservative Party, stated his decision to withdraw is aimed at concentrating on clearing his name amidst the charges against him.
George is among a group of individuals associated with the Conservative Party who allegedly placed bets on the date of the general election, which was called by then-prime minister Rishi Sunak. In response to the allegations, Conservative Senedd leader Darren Millar has suspended George from the party, resulting in his current status as an independent member of the Welsh parliament.
In a statement released on Tuesday, George expressed his astonishment at learning of the charges for cheating brought by the Gambling Commission. “To be clear, I have never cheated. However, given the Gambling Commission’s decision, and my understanding of what will follow, this is likely to be a lengthy process that may not be resolved by May 2026,” he remarked.
He elaborated on the necessity of his decision, stating, “In the circumstances, I feel I have no alternative but to withdraw my candidacy for next year’s Senedd elections so that I can focus on fighting to clear my name. I will of course continue to serve the people of Montgomeryshire to the very best of my ability.” George also expressed gratitude for the support he has received from his constituents during this challenging time.
Others facing similar charges include Craig Williams, who previously represented Montgomeryshire in Parliament; Nick Mason, a former chief data officer for the Conservative Party; Laura Saunders, who contested for Bristol North West last July; and Tony Lee, the Conservatives’ campaigns director, who is married to Saunders.
In light of the situation, the Conservative Party has announced that current staff members implicated in the scandal are being suspended with immediate effect. The investigation, which first commenced in June 2024 amid the electoral campaign, is centered around claims that certain individuals exploited confidential information regarding the election date to unfairly benefit in betting markets.
The 15 individuals charged in this matter are scheduled to appear in Westminster Magistrates’ Court on June 13.
Source
www.theguardian.com