A HEREFORDSHIRE councillor and a former Tory MP are among 15 people charged by the Gambling Commission following an investigation into alleged cheating over bets placed on the timing of the 2024 General Election.

They include local county councillor Nick Mason, 51, who was the Conservative Party’s chief data officer during last year’s general election.

Spokesman for the minority ruling Conservative group on Herefordshire Council, Cllr Dan Hurcomb, said the Weobly ward councillor contacted them last week "to confirm that he will be voluntarily suspending his membership of the Conservative group on Herefordshire Council whilst formal legal proceedings are ongoing".

"Nick remains a councillor and will continue to serve his residents as an independent,” he told the BBC.

The Gambling Commission investigation, initiated in June 2024, focused on “individuals suspected of using confidential information – specifically advance knowledge of the proposed election date – to gain an unfair advantage in betting markets”, which is a criminal offence under the Gambling Act.

Those charged, who also include former Montgomeryshire Tory MP Craig Williams – who was then PM Richi Sunak’s private secretary – are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on June 13.

The Sunday Times reported last year that Cllr Mason allegedly placed “dozens” of bets on the election date ahead of its formal announcement by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Cllr Mason was named as Herefordshire Council Cabinet support to the council’s leader and deputy leader in 2023.

Among others charged are Russell George, a Tory Senedd member who represents the same area as Williams did.

Welsh Conservative leader, Darren Millar, confirmed that George had been suspended from the Senedd Conservative group “pending the outcome of the justice process”.

Others include Laura Saunders, who was the Tory candidate for Bristol North West in July, and her husband Tony Lee, who was the Conservatives’ campaigns director