I worked closely with Rupert Lowe. This is why Nigel Farage and Reform couldn't work with him
Rupert's no team player. Never has been. He kicked off with the Referendum Party, all about giving the people a say on the EU. Then, in 2019, he became an MEP for the Brexit Party, Brexit being the hill he'd die on. Then managed to get himself the party's No 2 target seat, Dudley, in the General election, only to yank his candidacy from the general election on the last day of nominations. That's Rupert in a nutshell: all in, then out, on his terms. He's forthright, sure, call it a talent if you like, but it's a polite way of saying he doesn't care for consensus. He's built a vociferous online support base, and they lap up his every word, but it's a solo act, not a party anthem.
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Powys County Times
an hour ago
- Powys County Times
Powys Tory politicians linked to gambling scandal in court
Former Montgomeryshire MP Craig Williams gave no plea as he appeared in court for the first time over charges of cheating by gambling on the date of the 2024 General Election. But Russell George, the current Conservative MS for Montgomeryshire, entered a not guilty plea as the pair, along with 13 other defendants, appeared before magistrates on Friday (June 13). Mr Williams, 39, who served as the Tory MP for Montgomeryshire at the time of the alleged offences, has been charged with cheating at gambling and three counts of enabling or assisting others to cheat. Williams, of Llanfair Caereinion, who served as parliamentary private secretary to Rishi Sunak during his time as prime minister, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court today (Friday, June 13), alongside 14 others charged with similar offences. He did not enter a plea. Others included George, 50, who remains a Member of the Senedd but has been suspended from the Conservative party, and Thomas James, 38, the suspended director of the Welsh Conservatives, both of whom indicated not guilty pleas. The charges come after 'Operation Scott' was launched to investigate gambling by politicians and employees of the Conservative Party in the lead-up to the 2024 general election. Rishi Sunak, who has provided a witness statement in this case, had noted that elections would take place in the second half of the year but had not given a date. Prosecuting on behalf of the Gambling Commission, Sam Stein KC said: 'Operation Scott was an investigation launched by the gambling commission into politicians and employees of the Conservative Party, and a former police officer… who had placed bets on the date of the 2024 general election with the benefit of confidential or insider information as to when that date might be. 'The prosecution says that placing bets with inside information is a criminal offence, namely cheating.' Williams became MP for Montgomeryshire at the 2019 general election which he lost in July last year. The 15 defendants are alleged to have placed bets based on confidential information, or enabling others to place bets by passing information on. If convicted, they could face up to two years in prison for these offences. Twelve of the defendants indicated not guilty pleas. They were: Simon Chatfield, 51, from Farnham, Surrey; Russell George, 50; Amy Hind, 34, of Loughton, Essex; Anthony Hind, 36, of Loughton, Essex; Thomas James, 38; Charlotte Lang, 36; Anthony Lee, 47; Laura Saunders, 37; Iain Makepeace, 47, from Newcastle Upon Tyne; Nick Mason, 51; Paul Place, 53, from Hammersmith, west London; and James Ward, 40, of Leeds, all indicated they would deny the charges. Former MP Williams along with Jacob Willmer, 39, from Richmond, West London, and former police officer Jeremy Hunt, 55, of Horne in Surrey, gave no indication of plea. The 15 accused gamblers will appear at Southwark Crown Court on July 11.
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Ex-Tory MP among 15 in court facing betting charges
Fifteen people, including former Tory MP Craig Williams, have appeared in court charged with betting offences linked to the timing of last year's general follows an investigation by the Gambling Commission into alleged betting on the date of the at Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday, Williams was among three defendants who gave no indication of a plea at this others, including Russell George, a former Conservative now independent member of the Welsh Senedd, indicated they would deny the defendants will appear again at Southwark Crown Court on July 11. On 22 May 2024, Rishi Sunak announced the general election would be held on 4 July that year, overturning previous expectations of an autumn on behalf of the Gambling Commission, Sam Stein KC said Sunak was among those to have given a witness statement in the Stein told the court the commission's investigation was launched into "politicians and employees of the Conservative Party, and a former police officer... who had placed bets on the date of the 2024 general election with the benefit of confidential or insider information as to when that date might be"."The prosecution says that placing bets with inside information is a criminal offence, namely cheating," he the election was called, Williams was the MP for Montgomeryshire and a parliamentary aide to was previously MP for Cardiff North between 2015 and 2017, before he lost his seat to Labour in the election that with Williams, former police officer Jeremy Hunt, 55, of Horne in Surrey, and Jacob Willmer, 39, from Richmond, west London, did not indicate a with George, those indicating a not guilty plea included Laura Saunders, the former Conservative parliamentary candidate in Bristol North West, and her partner Anthony others indicating they would deny the charges included Simon Chatfield, 51, from Farnham, Surrey, Amy Hind, 34, of Loughton, Essex, Anthony Hind, 36, of Loughton, Essex, Thomas James, 38, Charlotte Lang, 36, Iain Makepeace, 47, from Newcastle Upon Tyne, Nick Mason, 51, Paul Place, 54, from Hammersmith, west London and James Ward, 40, of Leeds.
Powys County Times
2 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Craig Williams and Russell George in court today
Former Powys MP Craig Williams and current Montgomeryshire MS Russell George are appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court today (June 13), accused of election gambling. They are two of 15 people charged with offences under the Gambling Act 2005 following an investigation into alleged cheating related to bets placed on the timing of the 2024 General Election. Williams arrived at the court a short time ago.
