Ex-Tory campaign chief pleads guilty over election bet

The Conservatives' former director of campaigning and his wife have pleaded guilty to cheating at gambling by placing bets on the date of the 2024 general election.

Anthony Lee passed confidential information to his wife Laura Lee about when former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was planning to call the general election.

Laura Lee, who was a parliamentary candidate at the time, then placed bets on the date of the general election.

On Thursday at Southwark Crown Court, Anthony Lee pleaded guilty to two offences and Laura Lee pleaded guilty to one offence. They will be sentenced in October.

The trials of 10 other defendants will take place in September 2027 and January 2028.

Former MP Craig Williams, who was Sunak's closest parliamentary aide at the time, pleaded guilty in June and will be sentenced at a later date.

In Williams' case, the prosecution said he bet £250, £100, and £22.50 on the date of the 2024 election, telling the court he "used highly sensitive and confidential information".

Sunak's decision to call the poll was a surprise to many, including many Conservative MPs, who were expecting an autumn date.