Two more admit General Election betting offences

Two more individuals have pleaded guilty in connection with betting offences relating to the timing of the 2024 UK General Election.

On 10 September, Anthony Lee admitted two offences of cheating under sections 42(1)(a) and 42(1)(b) of the Gambling Act 2005, while Laura Lee (formerly Saunders) admitted one offence of cheating under section 42(1)(a).

The offences relate to bets placed on the date of the 2024 General Election before it was publicly announced. Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on 22 May 2024 that the election would take place on 4 July 2024, following a period of planning involving staff at 10 Downing Street and Conservative Campaign Headquarters.

At the time, gambling operators were offering markets on when the General Election would be called. According to the Gambling Commission, these markets were not intended to be influenced by individuals with access to confidential information about the timing of the announcement.

Anthony Lee, who served as the Conservative Party’s Director of Campaigning, had access to sensitive discussions regarding the election timetable through his senior role. The Commission stated that he used that information to place bets and shared it with his wife.

Laura Lee, then the Conservative Party’s Head of International and the party’s candidate for Bristol North West at the 2024 General Election, placed bets after receiving confidential information about the election date from her husband, according to the Commission.

Anthony Lee, Laura Lee and Amy Hind are due to be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on 23 October 2026. Meanwhile, Craig Williams, who pleaded guilty in June, will be sentenced at a later date. The remaining 10 defendants are scheduled to stand trial in September 2027 and January 2028.