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Vote Leave members 'may have committed criminal offences' Vote Leave members 'may have committed criminal offences'
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A number of possible criminal offences may have been committed by members of the official Brexit campaign during the EU referendum, according to the expert view of some of Britain’s leading barristers.A number of possible criminal offences may have been committed by members of the official Brexit campaign during the EU referendum, according to the expert view of some of Britain’s leading barristers.
Intensifying the pressure on senior figures within Theresa May’s cabinet and No 10 Downing Street, Helen Mountfield QC and Clare Montgomery QC of Matrix Chambers, concluded there is a “prima facie case” that a number of electoral offences were committed by the Vote Leave campaign.Intensifying the pressure on senior figures within Theresa May’s cabinet and No 10 Downing Street, Helen Mountfield QC and Clare Montgomery QC of Matrix Chambers, concluded there is a “prima facie case” that a number of electoral offences were committed by the Vote Leave campaign.
An urgent investigation is required, they say, to determine whether the case should be referred to the Crown Prosecution Service.An urgent investigation is required, they say, to determine whether the case should be referred to the Crown Prosecution Service.
Having examined a “significant body of new whistleblower evidence” which includes the testimony of three individuals with close knowledge of the Vote Leave campaign, the QC’s legal opinion is that “there would be realistic prospects of conviction” in relation to claims revealed in the Observer that Vote Leave may have flouted referendum spending rules during the EU referendum campaign. Having examined a “significant body of new whistleblower evidence” which includes the testimony of three individuals with close knowledge of the Vote Leave campaign, the QCs’ legal opinion is that “there would be realistic prospects of conviction” in relation to claims revealed in the Observer that Vote Leave may have flouted referendum spending rules during the EU referendum campaign.
The QCs said that, from the documents and files they have seen and which have now been sent to the Electoral Commission, there are “strong grounds” that Vote Leave overspent, as it channelled money through another campaign, which it may have been co-ordinating with. This, if proved true, amounts to a breach of electoral law. The QCs said that, from the documents and files they had seen and which have now been sent to the Electoral Commission, there were “strong grounds” that Vote Leave overspent, as it channelled money through another campaign, which it may have been co-ordinating with. This, if proved true, amounts to a breach of electoral law.
Vote Leave, whose leading members include Boris Johnson and Michael Gove, strongly denies any co-ordination with another campaign group during the referendum.Vote Leave, whose leading members include Boris Johnson and Michael Gove, strongly denies any co-ordination with another campaign group during the referendum.
The new evidence, according to the 50-page document examining payments made by Vote Leave during the EU referendum, is “highly significant because it substantially changes the evidential picture” compared to the material previously examined by the Electoral Commission. The new evidence, according to the 50-page document examining payments made by Vote Leave during the EU referendum, is “highly significant because it substantially changes the evidential picture” compared with the material previously examined by the Electoral Commission.
The document says that the Electoral Commission must use its powers to investigate members of the campaign and that “in our opinion, the extensive grounds for suspicion of the commission of offences under PPERA [Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000] are sufficiently strong, and the potential offences sufficiently serious, that there is a good case for the exercise by the commission of its investigative powers.” The document says that the Electoral Commission must use its powers to investigate members of the campaign and that “in our opinion, the extensive grounds for suspicion of the commission of offences under PPERA [Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000] are sufficiently strong, and the potential offences sufficiently serious, that there is a good case for the exercise by the commission of its investigative powers”.
Mountfield, Montgomery and a third barrister from Matrix, Ben Silverstone, also examined evidence in relation to apparent attempts to destroy evidence in relation to the deletion of Key Vote Leave names from a shared drive with a referendum campaign organisation called BeLeave. The QCs concluded that the material “justifies further investigation with a view to establish whether there is reasonable suspicion that the offence of perverting the course of justice has been committed.” Mountfield, Montgomery and a third barrister from Matrix, Ben Silverstone, also examined evidence in relation to the possible deletion of key Vote Leave names from a shared drive with a referendum campaign organisation called BeLeave. The QCs concluded that the material “justifies further investigation with a view to establish whether there is reasonable suspicion that the offence of perverting the course of justice has been committed”.
The Electoral Commission has already “assessed” the issue twice and found in favour of Vote Leave on both occasions. However a judicial review launched by the Good Law Project in November led to the commission re-opening an investigation into the donation and is yet to report its findings.The Electoral Commission has already “assessed” the issue twice and found in favour of Vote Leave on both occasions. However a judicial review launched by the Good Law Project in November led to the commission re-opening an investigation into the donation and is yet to report its findings.
BrexitBrexit
Article 50Article 50
Boris JohnsonBoris Johnson
Michael GoveMichael Gove
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