Electoral Commission Clears Remain Campaign Over Allegations From Conservative MP

By Mark Pack : Claims by Conservative MP and high-profile Leave campaigner Priti Patel that the Remain campaign broke the law during the European referendum have fallen apart under investigation from the Electoral Commission:

 

Former Cabinet minister and Brexiteer Priti Patel had … alleged that Britain Stronger in Europe failed to report joint spending with Labour, the Lib Dems and the Tories.

But the Electoral Commission said it did not have “reasonable grounds” to believe the official Britain Stronger in Europe (BSiE) group exceeded its spending limits and would not be opening an investigation.

In a letter to Ms Patel, the commission’s head of regulation Louise Edwards said: “Following examination we are satisfied that while liaison took place there is no evidence of joint spending as a result.

“The evidence indicates that the meetings were advisory in nature, focused on communications and did not involve or result in decisions on referendum spending, or the coordination of campaign activities across campaigners, as part of a common plan or other arrangement. [Daily Mirror]

 

What has, however, stood up to scrutiny is a long list of rule breaking by anti-EU campaigners:

 

• Nigel Farage fined half his salary
• Brexit campaigners fined for sending 500,000 spam SMS
• Record £12,000 fine for Brexit campaigner
• Brexit campaigner fined £1,500
• Two Brexit campaigners fined £1,000 each
• 11 anti-EU campaign groups struck off

Read: Electoral Commission’s letter over Priti Patel allegations

 

 

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