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Powys County Times
2 days ago
- 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."
Powys County Times
13-06-2025
- Politics
- 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
13-06-2025
- Politics
- 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.
The Guardian
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Former Tory MP to face trial on general election gambling charges
A former Conservative MP and 14 other people facing allegations of cheating by gambling on the date of last year's general election are to go on trial. Craig Williams, who was the MP for Montgomeryshire and a senior aide to the then prime minister, Rishi Sunak, appeared in the dock at Westminster magistrates court on Friday after charges were brought by the Gambling Commission. Twelve defendants gave indications they would plead not guilty. They included Russell George, who represents Montgomeryshire in the Welsh Senedd and is now listed as an independent after he was suspended from the Tory group, and Thomas James, the suspended director of the Welsh Conservatives. Williams, who has been charged with cheating at gambling and three counts of enabling or assisting others to cheat, gave no intention of how he would plead. Nor did two others: Jacob Wilmer, a former government special adviser, and Jeremy Hunt, an ex-police officer who was part of Sunak's Metropolitan police close protection unit. The defendants could face prison sentences of up to two years if convicted. Williams served as principal private secretary to Sunak between October 2022 and June 2024. Williams and the other defendants spoke briefly to confirm their names and provide an address. All were released on unconditional bail. A preliminary hearing will be hed at Southwark crown court on 11 July.
Powys County Times
13-06-2025
- Politics
- 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.
