Former Conservatives campaign boss spared jail after betting on 2024 general election date

Former Conservative campaigning director Anthony Lee was spared immediate prison after admitting he used inside information about the likely date of the 2024 general election to place bets. The court heard that he passed the information to his wife, Laura, so they could profit, and the judge said their conduct risked damaging public confidence in the Conservative Party.

Lee received a 10-month-and-two-week sentence, suspended for 12 months; Laura Lee was given four months and two weeks, suspended for a year, and Amy Hind, wife of a former Conservative deputy digital director, received six months, also suspended for a year. Anthony Lee placed or attempted 71 bets and his wife eight, with almost all stakes on a July election or the July-to-September period. The couple’s bets exceeded £2,000 and could have returned more than £23,000; the court heard that 4 July was among the dates discussed privately by Rishi Sunak and senior party figures.