Soros’s £400k for demand to probe

A CALL for an investigation into whether foreign money was used to fund anti-Brexit parliamentary candidates has been made by an MEP.

The demand by independent Steven Woolfe follows revelations that American billionaire George Soros ploughed £400,000 into the Remain campaign group Best for Britain.

The organisation spent a further £400,000 backing 16 candidates – 10 Labour, five Lib Dem and one Green Party candidate – in the general election last June but insists none of it came from foreign sources.

Election law means that only companies registered in Britain and individuals who are British citizens can give donations to political parties, candidates and election campaigns.

Questions have been asked whether Mr Soros, infamous for causing the Black Wednesday run on the pound with aggressive speculating in 1992, put money into the organisation ahead of the election.

Mr Woolfe said: “It is outrageous that a UK-based campaign group has taken money from a foreign banking billionaire. There needs to be an investigation.”

Best for Britain chairman Lord Malloch-Brown said: “At Best for Britain we follow all rules and regulations governing financial contributions to the letter and have appropriate compliance and reporting systems.

“We welcome the support of our patrons. George Soros’s foundations also made significant contributions to our work. Indeed through his foundations he has contributed £400,000. But our small donors have collectively contributed more and the commitments of the other major donors also exceed this amount.”

The candidates had the money in good faith from Best for Britain, which is registered in the UK, and would not have been aware of all the individual donors for the campaign. Mr Soros was unavailable for comment.