An ex-MP and others have been charged with insider betting offences.

This is interesting:

Fifteen people including former Conservative MP Craig Williams have been charged with betting offences by the Gambling Commission.

The investigation was launched last year following bets placed on the timing of the 2024 general election.

The commission said the investigation focused on individuals “suspected of using confidential information – specifically advance knowledge of the proposed election date – to gain an unfair advantage in betting markets”.

Before the election was called, Williams was the MP for Montgomeryshire and an aide to then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The group of those charged includes Russell George, a Member of the Senedd, who has since been suspended from the Welsh Conservative group.

Montgomershire is a constituency next door to mine (Brecon and Radnorshire). I used to know the MPs there, but I’m not familiar with Craig Williams.

I am familiar with Russell George – or at least I used to be, a while ago. He always struck me as a very friendly, personable fellow – but that would not preclude him from committing an offence like this.

As the matter is currently sub-judice, that’s about all I can say for the moment.

We’ll all have to wait and see what happens.