Tory campaign figures sentenced for betting on election date

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 23 Oct, 18:20 · Archive

Conservative Party insiders used confidential information to bet on the 2024 general election date.

Anthony Lee was sentenced to ten months and two weeks' imprisonment suspended for twelve months, while his wife Laura received four months and two weeks suspended for a year. Amy Hind was sentenced to six months' imprisonment suspended for a year, all at Southwark Crown Court.

Lee placed 71 bets on an election occurring between July and September 2024, while his wife placed eight and attempted a ninth. Lee was not present at the March 10 Downing Street meeting where July 4 was discussed as a working election date, but the court heard he was privy to meetings with Conservative figures and email correspondence. The meeting was attended by then-prime minister Sunak, his parliamentary private secretary Craig Williams, and Conservative strategist Isaac Levido.

Judge Tony Baumgartner said the defendants' conduct "risked undermining" public confidence in the Conservative Party "as an institution" and "more significantly, it undermines trust in the democratic process". Prosecutor Zoe Johnson KC told the court that Lee had "abused" the inside information by passing it to his wife so they could profit from betting.

How it is being reported

• Tory campaign director ‘abused inside information’ to bet on 2024 election dateAnthony Lee and wife Laura Saunders placed a £2,000 bet on the exact day of the 2024 snap poll.Metro · 23 Oct, 18:05
• Tory campaign figure ‘used inside information from Rishi Sunak meeting to bet’Anthony Lee and his wife Laura placed more than £2,000 worth of bets, standing to win more than £23,000, Southwark Crown Court heard.Evening Standard · 23 Oct, 15:52
• Tory campaign figure ‘used inside information from Rishi Sunak meeting to bet’Anthony Lee and his wife Laura placed more than £2,000 worth of bets, standing to win more than £23,000, Southwark Crown Court heard.Evening Standard · 23 Oct, 14:53

In this story: Anthony Lee · Laura Saunders · Amy Hind · Rishi Sunak · Conservative Party · Southwark Crown Court · Downing Street

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