PM ‘blocked MI5 probe’ into Brexit moneyman
THERESA May was yesterday urged to confirm whether or not ministers blocked an MI5 probe into Brexit donor Arron Banks.
Labour’s Ben Bradshaw wrote to the PM a day after it was announced the National Crime Agency was investigating the source of £8million funding Mr Banks apparently pumped into the Leave campaign.
It has been claimed security services were stopped from investigating Mr Banks in 2016.
Mr Bradshaw said: “I have today written to the Prime Minister to ask if she or any other minister or senior official has at any stage declined a request from any of our security, intelligence or law enforcement agencies to investigate Banks.”
A No10 spokeswoman insisted: “We would never confirm or deny the detail of any conversation with security services on any topic.”
INVESTIGATION
Tycoon Mr Banks is being probed for “suspected criminal offences” over campaign funding during the Brexit referendum. It came after the Electoral Commission said it had grounds to believe Mr Banks was not the true source of the cash.
The watchdog also referred Leave. EU boss Elizabeth Bilney and parent campaign Better for the Country to the NCA. Mr Banks, a leading donor to UKIP when Nigel Farage was at the helm, denies any wrongdoing.
Meanwhile it was claimed in court yesterday that Brexiteers fined for campaign overspending were illegally hounded by the Electoral Commission. Vote Leave was fined £61,000 and activist Darren Grimes, 24, was ordered to pay £20,000 for breaching election laws.
But they are appealing amid claims they were investigated by the commission a third time, after two probes found no wrongdoing. Timothy Straker QC, for Vote Leave, told a preliminary hearing the watchdog had “no power” to do so. The appeal will be heard in London. The commission will fight the claims.