This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/feb/16/arron-banks-threatens-to-sue-thinktank-over-pro-russian-actor-claim

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Arron Banks threatens to sue thinktank over 'pro-Russian actor' claim Arron Banks threatens to sue thinktank over 'pro-Russian actor' claim
(35 minutes later)
Arron Banks, the Ukip donor, has threatened to sue a Washington-based thinktank and three Conservative MPs over claims he is a “pro-Russian actor”.Arron Banks, the Ukip donor, has threatened to sue a Washington-based thinktank and three Conservative MPs over claims he is a “pro-Russian actor”.
The businessman, who helped bankroll the Brexit campaign, issued a press release saying he was taking legal proceedings against Atlantic Council over its report entitled The Kremlin’s Trojan Horses.The businessman, who helped bankroll the Brexit campaign, issued a press release saying he was taking legal proceedings against Atlantic Council over its report entitled The Kremlin’s Trojan Horses.
The report mentions him under a heading of “pro-Russian actors” along with figures such as Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Ukip’s former leader Nigel Farage. The report mentions him under a heading of “pro-Russian actors” along with figures such as the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, and Ukip’s former leader Nigel Farage.
A spokesman for Banks would not name the three Tory MPs who have also been issued with proceedings.A spokesman for Banks would not name the three Tory MPs who have also been issued with proceedings.
In a statement, Banks said the idea of him being a “pro-Russian actor” was a “sad little conspiracy which would be completely laughable if it wasn’t such an insult to the millions of ordinary people who are responsible for this modern revolution”.In a statement, Banks said the idea of him being a “pro-Russian actor” was a “sad little conspiracy which would be completely laughable if it wasn’t such an insult to the millions of ordinary people who are responsible for this modern revolution”.
“Having been beaten by the people at the ballot box in the Brexit referendum and the American elections, and with the economic armageddon they predicted nowhere to be found, the transatlantic establishment have retreated into a fantasy world where they only lost because of a global conspiracy between KGB spies and ultra-nationalist collaborators,” he added.“Having been beaten by the people at the ballot box in the Brexit referendum and the American elections, and with the economic armageddon they predicted nowhere to be found, the transatlantic establishment have retreated into a fantasy world where they only lost because of a global conspiracy between KGB spies and ultra-nationalist collaborators,” he added.
Atlantic Council has been contacted for comment.Atlantic Council has been contacted for comment.
Banks was one of the first people to be granted a meeting with Donald Trump after the US presidential election, alongside Farage and aides.Banks was one of the first people to be granted a meeting with Donald Trump after the US presidential election, alongside Farage and aides.
In his account of the EU referendum campaign, the Ukip donor talked about meeting the Russian ambassador to the UK when he described meeting a “a shady character called Oleg” who was attending the party’s annual conference at Doncaster racecourse in September 2015. In his account of the EU referendum campaign, the Ukip donor talked about meeting the Russian ambassador to the UK when he described meeting “a shady character called Oleg” who was attending the party’s annual conference at Doncaster racecourse in September 2015.
“He was introduced to us as the first secretary of the embassy – in other words, the KGB’s man in London,” Banks wrote in his book, The Bad Boys of Brexit.“He was introduced to us as the first secretary of the embassy – in other words, the KGB’s man in London,” Banks wrote in his book, The Bad Boys of Brexit.
According to the book, “Oleg” then invited him to a private meeting with the Russian ambassador, Alexander Yakovenko.According to the book, “Oleg” then invited him to a private meeting with the Russian ambassador, Alexander Yakovenko.
“Our host wanted the inside track on the Brexit campaign and grilled us on the potential implications of an out vote for Europe,” he said, claiming the meeting lasted six hours. “Diplomatic relations only improved when our new friend produced a special surprise. It was a bottle of vodka which he claimed was ‘one of only three in a batch made for Stalin personally’.” “Our host wanted the inside track on the Brexit campaign and grilled us on the potential implications of an out vote for Europe,” Banks said, claiming the meeting lasted six hours. “Diplomatic relations only improved when our new friend produced a special surprise. It was a bottle of vodka which he claimed was ‘one of only three in a batch made for Stalin personally’.”