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| Welsh Tory to quit at next Senedd poll due to general election betting charges | Welsh Tory to quit at next Senedd poll due to general election betting charges |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Russell George, who is among 15 people under investigation, says he wants to focus on clearing his name | Russell George, who is among 15 people under investigation, says he wants to focus on clearing his name |
| A Welsh politician who is among 15 people charged after bets were placed on the timing of the 2024 general election is to quit at the next Senedd election. | A Welsh politician who is among 15 people charged after bets were placed on the timing of the 2024 general election is to quit at the next Senedd election. |
| Russell George, the Conservative member for Montgomeryshire, said he was withdrawing his candidacy to stand in next year’s election to focus on clearing his name. | |
| The Senedd member was one of a number of people linked to the Conservative party reported to have made bets on the election date, which was called by then-prime minister Rishi Sunak. | |
| Senedd Conservative leader Darren Millar withdrew the whip from George last week after the Gambling Commission announced the charges, meaning he now sits as an independent within the Welsh parliament. | |
| George said in a statement on Tuesday: “I was shocked and surprised to have been informed by the Gambling Commission that I am facing charges for cheating. | |
| “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. | |
| “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. | |
| “I am grateful for the many messages of support that I have received in recent days, particularly from constituents.” | |
| Among others facing charges are Craig Williams, the former MP for Montgomeryshire, Nick Mason, a former chief data officer for the party, Laura Saunders, the Conservative candidate for Bristol North West last July, and Tony Lee, the Conservatives’ campaigns director, who is married to Saunders. | |
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| Current Tory staff members facing charges are being “suspended with immediate effect”, the party said last week. | |
| The investigation, which began in June 2024 as the election campaign took place, focused on “individuals suspected of using confidential information – specifically advance knowledge of the proposed election date – to gain an unfair advantage in betting markets”. | |
| The 15 charged will appear in Westminster magistrates court on 13 June. |