Vote Leave campaigner hits back over claims organisation ‘cheated’
A North Shields-born political adviser has denied claims his Vote Leave campaign “cheated” during the run up to the referendum.
Whistleblower Shahmir Sanni, who worked on the Vote Leave campaign, claims its links to another pro-Brexit group BeLeave - were manipulated to dodge strict spending rules set by the Electoral Commission.
Mr Sanni was in a relationship with senior Vote Leave figure Stephen Parkinson at the time of the June 2016 vote. Mr Sanni has also claimed through his lawyers that North Shields-born Mr Parkinson “outed” him as gay ahead of a Channel 4 story where the allegations were aired.
Mr Sanni claims BeLeave was controlled by Vote Leave, rather than an independent campaign. Vote Leave says it legally donated £650,000 to BeLeave.
Mr Parkinson is a former Conservative parliamentary candidate, who ran for the Newcastle North seat in the 2010 General Election. He now works as a special advisor to Prime Minister Theresa May. Mr Parkinson says Mr Sanni’s statements are “factually incorrect and misleading”.
Mr Sanni said: “In effect they used BeLeave to over-spend, and not just by a small amount... Almost two-thirds of a million pounds makes all the difference and it wasn’t legal.”
But Mr Parkinson said: “At the relevant time during the referendum period, the commission advised Vote Leave that it was permissible to make a donation in the way it proposed to do to BeLeave.
“Twice since the referendum the commission has investigated this matter, and twice it has found no evidence of wrongdoing. A third investigation into the same issue is currently taking place.
“The Electoral Commission has not contacted me in relation to any of these inquiries, but I will of course be happy to assist in them if they wish me to do so.
“I firmly deny the allegations in the programme.
“I had no responsibility for digital campaigning or donations on the Vote Leave campaign, and am confident that I stayed within the law and strict spending rules at all times.”
A Vote Leave spokesman says it has twice been cleared of any wrongdoing.
An Electoral Commission spokeswoman said: “The commission has a number of investigations open in relation to campaigners at the EU Referendum; it does not comment on live investigations.”