A Welsh politician who is among 15 people charged after bets were placed on the timing of the 2024 general election is to quit at the next Senedd election.

Russell George, the Conservative member for Montgomeryshire, said he was withdrawing his candidacy to stand in next year’s election, and focusing on clearing his name.

The Senedd member was one of a number of people linked to the Conservative Party reported to have made bets on the election date, which was called by then-prime minister Rishi Sunak.

“I was shocked and surprised to have been informed by the Gambling Commission that I am facing charges for cheating,” Mr George said in a statement.

Current Tory staff members facing charges are being “suspended with immediate effect”, the party said last week.

After the Gambling Commission announced the charges, George was suspended from the Conservative group in the Senedd by leader Darren Millar.