Gambling: Welsh Tory Russell George in probe back on front bench

A Welsh Conservative politician who was investigated over the timing of a bet on the general election has returned to his party’s front bench.

Russell George has told the BBC he is “not sure” of the current position of the Gambling Commission probe, and has not heard from them for “some months”.

He was one of a number of Conservatives who were caught up in an investigation over bets made on the general election prior to the poll in July.

The Member of the Senedd (MS) for Montgomeryshire said he was “happy that I didn’t do anything incorrect, and I’m just really happy to continue my job in the Senedd”.

The Gambling Commission said it was unable to comment further “in order to protect the integrity of the investigation”.

Conservatives involved the probe included George’s colleague, Craig Williams, the former MP for Montgomeryshire who lost his seat at the election.

The MS said he would step back from his job as spokesman for mid Wales when the news broke in June.

It emerged he had returned to the job in a press release sent to the media on Wednesday about an entirely separate issue.

He has also returned to his duties as chair of the health committee of the Senedd – something he had also stepped back from temporarily in the summer for a few weeks.

Because he did not fully resigned from the position he continued to receive his additional committee chair salary of £14,636.

The Metropolitan Police has said it has ended its own investigation.

Speaking to James Williams on Radio Wales Breakfast, he said he had returned to the Conservative shadow cabinet “some weeks ago”.

He said he did not know if the Gambling Commission investigation was continuing.

“I was very happy to engage with the Gambling Commission many months ago now.

“I spoke to them on a voluntary basis about my situation. I was very happy to co-operate with them. I haven’t heard anything since, and I’m not sure what the current position is”.

A Gambling Commission spokesperson said: “In order to protect the integrity of the investigation and to ensure a fair and just outcome, we are unable to comment further at this time, including the name of any person who may be under suspicion, or the total number of suspects.”