Patel demands a probe into Remain campaign spending
FORMER minister Priti Patel yesterday demanded an investigation into alleged breaches of spending rules by Remain campaigners before the EU referendum.
The former International Development Secretary said there was “significant evidence” of collusion between anti-Brexit groups to hide their total expenditure.
She claimed rules were broken in the push to feed pro-Brussels “propaganda” to voters.
Ms Patel has written to government watchdog the Electoral Commission to call for a probe into the Remainers’ activities.
She said: “There needs to be a thorough investigation into the actions, expenditure and financial probity of Remain campaigners, who appear to have flouted the rules to advance their cause in concert with each other. It cannot be right that Remain campaigners can so blatantly flout the rules to feed the British people their propaganda.
“As well as co-ordinating campaigning and spending, they used every organ of the British state to try to bully people into staying in the EU.
“They even spent £9million of taxpayers’ money on a campaign leaflet, breaking the normal rules of fair play of our democratic system.
“Brexit will be a great liberation for this country but the leadership of the Remain campaign must still be held to account for its actions.”
In the run-up to the June 2016 referendum, caps were set for each party and the various Leave and Remain campaign groups.
Ms Patel pointed to a book written by Sir Craig Oliver, an aide to David Cameron while Prime Minister, that she claims showed co-ordination went on between anti-Brexit groups.
“It is simply inconceivable that this did not involve referendum expenses being incurred pursuant to a common plan or other arrangement,” she said.
A spokesman for Britain Stronger In Europe said the group “always complied fully with the Electoral Commission rules on working together and included any instances of it happening in our return”.
An Electoral Commission spokesman said: “We consider and assess possible breaches of the rules consistent with our published Enforcement Policy and will review the content of Priti Patel’s letter before deciding whether any action is required.”