The Conservatives' former director of campaigning, Anthony Lee, and his wife, Laura Lee, have pleaded guilty to cheating at gambling. The couple placed bets on the date of the 2024 general election, with Mr Lee passing confidential information to his wife regarding when former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak planned to call the election.
The Gambling Commission stated that Anthony Lee stood to win approximately £15,000 from over 60 successful bets totalling £1,549. Laura Lee, who was a parliamentary candidate at the time, placed eight successful bets totalling £535, which would have resulted in a profit of around £5,000.
At Southwark Crown Court on Thursday, Anthony Lee pleaded guilty to two offences, and Laura Lee pleaded guilty to one offence. They are scheduled for sentencing in October.
Former MP Craig Williams, who was Rishi Sunak's closest parliamentary aide, also pleaded guilty in June to betting on the election date and will be sentenced at a later date. The prosecution in Williams' case stated he bet £250, £100, and £22.50, acknowledging he "used highly sensitive and confidential information."
The trials of 10 other defendants are set to take place in September 2027 and January 2028.