Arron Banks probe: Leave.EU chairman faces investigation over whether he broke donation rules during referendum

Probe: Arron Banks
Getty Images
Fiona Simpson1 November 2017
WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Leave.EU chairman Arron Banks is being investigated over claims he broke donation rules during the EU referendum.

The Electoral Commission has launched a probe into whether or not the multi-millionaire breached finance rules relating to donations or loans made to campaigners before the June 23 vote.

The investigation, launched on Wednesday, will also look into the activities of a firm called Better for the Country Limited, of which Mr Banks is a director.

The firm was not registered as a permitted participant in the referendum and five registered campaigners reported donations from it totalling more than £2.3 million.

Donations: Arron Banks donated £1 million to UKIP before the 2015 general election campaign
Matt Cardy/Getty

Mr Banks made three loans worth £6 million on non-commercial terms to Leave.EU.

The investigation will look at whether BFTCL, Mr Banks and recipients of funds from them may have committed offences under election law.

Responding to news of the investigation, Mr Banks, who donated £1 million to UKIP ahead of the 2015 general election, tweeted: "Gosh I'm terrified."

Bob Posner, the commission's director of political finance and regulation, and legal counsel, said: "Interest in the funding of the EU referendum campaigns remains widespread.

"Questions over the legitimacy of funding provided to campaigners at the referendum risks causing harm to voters' confidence.

"It is therefore in the public interest that the Electoral Commission seeks to ascertain whether or not impermissible donations were given to referendum campaigners and if any other related offences have taken place."

Additional reporting by Press Association.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in