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 from Richmond, west London, and Jeremy Hunt, an ex-police officer from Horne in Surrey 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 parliamentary 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 heard at Southwark crown court on 11 July.