Pro-Brexit campaigners investigated for multiple ‘criminal’ offences during EU referendum

Arron Banks and other leading pro-Brexit campaigners are being investigated by the National Crime Agency (NCA) over suspicions they committed “multiple” criminal offences during the EU referendum.

They were referred to the organisation by the Electoral Commission, which said it had grounds to believe they had committed numerous criminal acts relating to funding for the Leave.EU campaign.

Mr Banks bankrolled the Leave.EU campaign that featured senior Brexiteers such as Nigel Farage. The campaign was run by the Better for the Country group, which has also been referred to the NCA.

The NCA has opened a criminal investigation into the matter.  The case focuses on £8m of funding that was reportedly given to Better for the Country by Mr Banks. But in an explosive statement set to reignite controversy over funding of pro-Brexit groups, the Electoral Commission said it believed the businessman was “not the true source” of the money.

The funding consisted of £6m in donations funnelled through Leave.EU, and an additional £2m in loans. £2.9m of the money was used to fund Leave.EU campaign spending and donations to other pro-Brexit groups.

Reported on The Independent (UK)