Candidate in gambling probe

Former MP and Conservative candidate, Craig Williams is under scrutiny tonight as it's revealed he placed a bet on the date of the general election.

Mr Williams, who is the candidate for the newly-merged Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr constituency, disclosed the situation in a social media post where he acknowledged being approached by a journalist regarding a bet found in one of his accounts related to the general election.

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It has been revealed by the Guardian that Mr Williams, the incumbent MP for the area since 2019, placed a bet on the date of the general election merely three days before its announcement.

The reported £100 bet potentially leading to a £500 payout carried odds of 5/1 and was flagged by Ladbrokes as it was placed by a politically exposed person.

The bookmaker has certain precautions in place concerning "novelty" markets and Mr Williams' bet fell into that category. Since the bet was placed online, personal details such as date of birth and debit card information would have been required. Additionally, the bookmaker is aware of the geographical location of where the bet was made.

In light of these revelations, Mr Williams took to social media to address the issue preemptively to prevent it from overshadowing his campaign.

Statement: pic.twitter.com/Z8uMpPlnLJ

— Craig Williams (@craig4monty) June 12, 2024

The candidates in the running for your votes in Montgomeryshire & Glyndwr are:

• Jeremy Brignell-Thorp (Green Party)
• Oliver Lewis (Reform UK)
• Glyn Preston (Liberal Democrat)
• Elwyn Vaughan (Plaid Cymru)
• Craig Williams (Conservative)
• Steve Witherden (Labour)