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Powys County Times
17-07-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Future of Newtown's Welsh Government office in doubt
The future of the Welsh Government offices in Powys are in doubt after the first minister confirmed it was reviewing its future. The Welsh Government could be preparing to close its long-standing office at Ladywell House in Newtown after it was revealed in the Senedd a review was being made into its feasibility. Ladywell House is owned by Powys County Council; the offices are leased to several organisations including the Welsh Government who once owned the building. The building has long been the home of Government organisations, such as the Development Board for Rural Wales. Montgomeryshire MS, Russell George pressed the First Minister, Eluned Morgan, during First Ministers Questions this week, citing a written response he received confirming that Ladywell House is part of an ongoing review of Government business accommodation across the region. Mr George expressed concern over the potential impact on local jobs and the wider economy of the town and called on the First Minister to recognise the importance of maintaining a Welsh Government presence across the whole of Wales – not just made up of those who live in the Cardiff area. The First Minister said she agree with Mr George's sentiment but said that issues were being caused by changes to the way people work and that the office was not being used frequently. 'We can't justify continuing to hold offices open if people don't turn up,' said Ms Morgan. 'It is important that we encourage people to come into work; we are encouraging them to come in. 'But, clearly, there will come a point where you have to say, 'If you don't turn up, we cannot justify keeping this particular office open.' 'So, it is incumbent on those people to understand that if they don't go into the offices, there is a danger that we will be in a situation where it'll be difficult for us to continue, if they don't turn up.' Help support trusted local news Sign up for a digital subscription now: As a digital subscriber you will get Unlimited access to the County Times website Advert-light access Reader rewards Full access to our app Mr George is now calling on the Welsh Government to confirm its intentions regarding Ladywell House and to 'ensure that rural communities like Newtown are not overlooked in future plans'. 'This site has housed Welsh Government offices for decades,' said Mr George. 'Around 80 staff are contractually based at Ladywell House. These jobs don't just support the individuals and families directly involved; they also provide vital support to town centre shops and local services.' 'The review has understandably raised concerns. If the Government is actively reviewing its office estate in Powys, then the future of a Welsh Government presence in Montgomeryshire must be considered at risk. 'I pressed the First Minister to provide clarity and reassurance, as it is important to Government employees and retains people who live in mid Wales to make the Welsh Government more reflective of the needs and requirements of all people, from all communities across Wales.'
Powys County Times
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Ex-MP Craig Williams gambling trial date set for 2028
Former Montgomeryshire MP Craig Williams faces a wait of more than two years for trial on gambling charges. Williams, 40, who was Tory MP for Montgomeryshire until last year, is charged with cheating at gambling and three counts of enabling or assisting others to cheat, in relation to the 2024 General Election. At Southwark Crown Court on Friday, Williams, from Llanfair Caereinion, appeared wearing a smart black suit and tie. As in magistrates court last month, he did not indicate a plea. The court will also hear an application to dismiss the charges on January 19 next year. Because of the large number of defendants, two trials have been scheduled to take place, with the first fixed for September 6 2027, and the second for January 3 2028. Williams will be in the 2028 trial. Other defendants included Montgomeryshire MS Russell George, 50, and Thomas James, 38, the suspended director of the Welsh Conservatives, both of whom have previously 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. Williams was first the MP for Cardiff North between 2015 and 2017 before he lost his seat to Labour MP Anna McMorrin. He was then elected MP for Montgomeryshire at the 2019 general election, and lost his seat to Steve Witherden in the newly-reshaped Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr constituency in July last year. Before the July 4 election was called, planning took place at Downing Street and Conservative campaign headquarters, the court heard. The 15 defendants are alleged to have placed bets based on confidential information gained from those rooms, or enabled others to place bets by passing that information on. If convicted they could face up to two years in prison for these offences. Twelve of the defendants indicated not guilty pleas at a previous hearing. They are: 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; James Ward, 40, of Leeds. Former MP Williams, with Jacob Willmer, 39, from Richmond, west London, and former police officer Jeremy Hunt, 55, of Horne in Surrey, are yet to indicate a plea.
ITV News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Former MP and aide to Rishi Sunak in court over gambling on general election date
A former MP and aide to Rishi Sunak when he was Prime Minister has appeared in court charged with gambling offences involving the 2024 election. Williams, 40, who was Conservative MP for Montgomeryshire and Cardiff North, is charged with cheating at gambling and three counts of enabling or assisting others to cheat. He is one of 15 defendants who face similar charges. On Friday (11 July), Williams appeared at Southwark Crown Court accused of cheating by gambling on the date of the 2024 general election. He did not indicate a plea. The court will hear an application to dismiss the charges on January 19 next year. He and his 14 co-defendants face a wait of more than two years for trial. Because of the large number of defendants, two trials will take place, with the first fixed for September 6 2027, and the second for January 3 2028. Williams case will be in the 2028 trial. Other defendants included former Conservative Member of the Senedd Russell George, 50, and Thomas James, 38, the suspended director of the Welsh Conservatives, both of whom have previously 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. Mr 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. Williams was first the MP for Cardiff North between 2015 and 2017 before he lost his seat to Labour MP Anna McMorrin. He was parliamentary private secretary to Mr Sunak during his time as prime minister. He was then elected MP for Montgomeryshire at the 2019 general election, and lost his seat in July last year. Before the July 4 election was called, planning took place at Downing Street and Conservative campaign headquarters, the court heard. The 15 defendants are alleged to have placed bets based on confidential information gained from those rooms, or enabled others to place bets by passing that information on. If convicted they could face up to two years in prison for these offences. Twelve of the defendants indicated not guilty pleas at a previous hearing. 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, with Jacob Willmer, 39, from Richmond, west London, and former police officer Jeremy Hunt, 55, of Horne in Surrey, are yet to indicate a plea.
Powys County Times
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Ex-MP Craig Williams in crown court over gambling charges
Former Montgomeryshire MP Craig Williams has arrived at court this morning to face charges that he cheated by gambling on the date of last year's General Election. The ex-MP and senior adviser to then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who lost the backing of the Conservative Party amid the emergence of the allegations, was defeated in the 2024 General Election. At Westminster Magistrates Court last month, Williams, of Llanfair Caereinion, appeared wearing a smart black suit and grey tie alongside 14 others charged with similar offences. Pictures from the Press Association this morning showed him arriving at Southwark Crown Court in London dressed in similar attire. Others included Montgomeryshire MS Russell George, 50, and Thomas James, 38, the suspended director of the Welsh Conservatives, both of whom indicated not guilty pleas. Williams did not enter a plea at the magistrates court hearing. Williams was first the MP for Cardiff North between 2015 and 2017 before he lost his seat to Labour MP Anna McMorrin. He was then elected as the MP for Montgomeryshire at the 2019 general election which he lost to Labour's Steve Witherden in July last year. If convicted the 15 defendants could face up to two years in prison for these offences. Twelve of the defendants indicated not guilty pleas. On June 13 the following defendants all indicated they would deny the charges. 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, 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.
Powys County Times
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Bluetongue restrictions 'disatrous' for Powys faming says MS
Farmers on the English border in Powys are facing a huge shock in proposed disease restrictions that have been described as 'disastrous'. Plans to ban the movement of sheep and cattle from England into Wales unless they have been tested for Bluetongue have been branded as 'baffling' and 'impractical'. The change will come into place on July 1 and will restrict the movement of sheep and cattle across the border unless they have a test which can cost anywhere between £40 to £70 per animal, even if they have been vaccinated. This comes as England is moved into being a restricted zone as the disease which is spread by infected midges, continues to be found in different locations in England. Montgomeryshire MS, Russell George warned of a looming economic crisis and would cause millions of pounds in losses to the rural economy and severely disrupt vital cross-border livestock trade. 'The policy will have huge implications for cross-border trade and will ripple through the entire supply chain," said Mr George.. 'Farmers are anxious and worried about their livelihoods. They're concerned about not being able to source stock, including breeding stock." Fellow Powys MS James Evans said farmers now face 'sky high testing fees, red tape, and chaos'. 'No common sense has been applied whatsoever,' said Mr Evans. 'What it does show is a real disconnect and a real lack of understanding from the government of how livestock movements and livestock sales will actually work. 'The impact on cross border trade is also going to be significant, having a two-tiered system when buying livestock in terms of prices and hitting our breeding sales across the country.' Help support trusted local news Sign up for a digital subscription now: As a digital subscriber you will get Unlimited access to the County Times website Advert-light access Reader rewards Full access to our app Former leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies said the move 'puts the livestock industry here in Wales on the altar of stupidity' adding that 'this makes no sense whatsoever". Meanwhile, calls have been made in Powys County Council to put pressure on the Welsh Government to change course. Reform Cllr Geoff Morgan and independent Cllr Ed Jones have submitted a motion to call on the council to write to the Welsh Government Minister for Rural Affairs Huw Irranca-Davies 'urging an urgent review of the current Bluetongue movement restrictions". This would request that the Minister give 'a formal update on any plans to facilitate testing, vaccine rollout, and compensation for affected livestock holders in Powys'. 'Farmers across Powys, especially those with land on both sides of the border, are being severely impacted by arbitrary rules that prevent them from moving livestock between fields on the same farm — while livestock can still legally travel the length of England from Cornwall to Cumbria,' said Cllr Morgan. 'Many of Powys County Council's own Farms Estate tenants are among those affected, so this is a matter directly linked to council business.' Mr Irranca Davies told the Senedd that he had come to the decision after "meeting with senior representatives of the livestock and veterinary sectors on June 5."
