Brexit backer faces Kremlin link questions
MILLIONAIRE Brexit backer Arron Banks is facing calls to explain his links with the Kremlin following reports that his contacts were far more extensive than previously acknowledged.
The Leave.EU founder, who helped bankroll Nigel Farage’s campaign, held a series of undisclosed meetings with Russian embassy officials around the time of the 2016 referendum campaign, according to the Sunday Times.
The paper said it had seen emails showing he also discussed a potential business deal involving six Russian gold mines with ambassador Alexander Yakovenko after being introduced to him by a suspected Russian spy.
The head of the parliamentary inquiry into “fake news”, Conservative MP Damian Collins, said the report raised serious questions about Russian interference in UK politics.
“The question I think people will want answered is did Mr Banks profit out of these meetings?” he told BBC1’s Sunday Politics programme.
Asked about the report at the G7 summit in Quebec on Saturday, Theresa May said: “I am sure that if there are any allegations that need investigation the proper authorities will do that.” Mr Collins confirmed that Mr Banks has agreed to give evidence to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee as planned on Tuesday, having previously announced he was pulling out, accusing the MPs of conducting a “witch hunt”.
Mr Banks dismissed the claims, telling the paper: “I had two boozy lunches with the Russian ambassador and another cup of tea with him. It’s a convenient political witch-hunt, over Brexit and Trump.”
He told the paper nothing came of their discussions over the gold mine deal. “We didn’t profit from any business deals because I never pursued anything,” he said.