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Arron Banks tells MPs: I have no business interests in Russia Arron Banks tells MPs: I have no business interests in Russia
(35 minutes later)
Arron Banks, the pro-Brexit financier, told MPs that he thought it would be worthwhile meeting a Russian businessman fronting a gold-mining deal at the suggestion of the country’s ambassador in the UK, but pulled out after City grandees warned him not to become more deeply involved. Arron Banks has told MPs he thought it would be worthwhile meeting a Russian businessman fronting a goldmining deal, at the suggestion of the country’s ambassador to the UK, but pulled out after being warned not to become more deeply involved.
Banks told the Commons digital, culture, media and sport committee that he thought it was worth attending the initial meeting with Siman Povarenkin but was then warned to “be circumspect” about becoming involved by the former general Lord Guthrie and a city grandee, Peter Hambro. Banks told the digital, culture, media and sport select committee he reasoned it was worth attending the initial meeting with Siman Povarenkin, but was then advised to “be circumspect” about further involvement by the former chief of the general staff Lord Guthrie and the businessman Peter Hambro.
“I met with him, I’m a businessman, why shouldn’t I? I thought it was interesting,” Banks said, referring to the meeting. After the warnings, Banks said, the deal fell away. He added: “I have no business in Russia, I have done no business deals in Russia.” “I met with him, I’m a businessman, why shouldn’t I? I thought it was interesting,” Banks said. After the warnings, he added, the deal fell away. “I have no business in Russia, I have done no business deals in Russia.”
Questions about Banks’s engagement in the gold deal came at the end of a marathon three-hour hearing that saw Nigel Farage’s backer eventually walk out, refusing to answer five more minutes of questions because he had another appointment and had been previously told the hearing was close to a conclusion. Questions about the Brexit donor’s engagement with the deal came at the end of a three-hour hearing that saw Nigel Farage’s financial backer eventually walk out, refusing to answer five more minutes of questions because he had another appointment and had previously been told the hearing was close to a conclusion.
MPs repeatedly questioned Banks, an insurance entrepreneur, about the sources of his money, prompting Banks to deny any of his wealth that he used to pump at least £9m of loans and donations to the Brexit campaign was from Russia. MPs repeatedly questioned Banks about the sources of his money, prompting the insurance entrepreneur to deny that any of the wealth he used to give at least £9m in loans and donations to the Brexit campaign was from Russia.
Banks, appearing alongside the Leave.EU spokesperson Andy Wigmore, also denied that he had visited Russia in February 2016 to progress the mining deal, presenting the committee with copies of both his passports, which he said showed there was no visa stamp around that date. Banks, appearing alongside the Leave.EU communications director, Andy Wigmore, also denied visiting Russia in February 2016 to progress the mining deal, presenting the committee with copies of both his passports, which he said showed there was no visa stamp around that date.
The two witnesses said that when Wigmore emailed a journalist at the time to suggest Banks was in Russia and unavailable, he was being mischievous and lying.The two witnesses said that when Wigmore emailed a journalist at the time to suggest Banks was in Russia and unavailable, he was being mischievous and lying.
The suggestion that Banks meet Povarenkin followed a meeting with Russia’s ambassador to Britain, Alexander Yakovenko, in November 2015. Banks told MPs that he went to meet the Russian because had been invited at the prompting of Wigmore, who also acted as a trade envoy for Belize. The suggestion that Banks meet Povarenkin followed a meeting with Russia’s ambassador to the UK, Alexander Yakovenko, in November 2015. Banks told MPs he went to meet him because he had been invited at the prompting of Wigmore, who also acted as a trade envoy for Belize.
Giles Watling, a Conservative MP on the committee, asked Banks: “I’d like to move on to big scary Russia. I get the point that if the Russian ambassador asks you round for a drink you go, but this relationship went on for quite some time. What were you hoping to get out of it?” Giles Watling, a Conservative MP on the committee, asked Banks: “I’d like to move on to big, scary Russia. I get the point that if the Russian ambassador asks you round for a drink you go, but this relationship went on for quite some time. What were you hoping to get out of it?”
Banks initially replied: “A good lunch, and that’s what I got,” prompting Watling to ask if there were in fact “Many good lunches?” Echoing his phrase, Banks agreed: “Many good lunches.” Banks initially replied “A good lunch, and that’s what I got”, prompting Watling to ask if there were in fact “many good lunches?” Echoing his phrase, Banks agreed: “Many good lunches.”
Banks was attending the select committee inquiring into fake news, in the aftermath of the leak of a cache of emails belonging to him, Wigmore and others which suggested that his dealings with Russia were far more extensive than previously thought.Banks was attending the select committee inquiring into fake news, in the aftermath of the leak of a cache of emails belonging to him, Wigmore and others which suggested that his dealings with Russia were far more extensive than previously thought.
He had previously said in the book The Bad Boys of Brexit that he had attended one “six-hour boozy lunch” with the Russian ambassador in November 2015, a few months before the Brexit vote, at which they drunk vodka supposedly distilled for Stalin.He had previously said in the book The Bad Boys of Brexit that he had attended one “six-hour boozy lunch” with the Russian ambassador in November 2015, a few months before the Brexit vote, at which they drunk vodka supposedly distilled for Stalin.
Banks and Wigmore also told MPs that they had passed a phone number for the Trump transition team to Yakovenko at another lunch they had with him in November 2016, a few days after their infamous visit to Trump Tower where they had met the then president-elect after waiting in the building for six hours. “What’s wrong with that? We gave them a telephone number,” Banks said.Banks and Wigmore also told MPs that they had passed a phone number for the Trump transition team to Yakovenko at another lunch they had with him in November 2016, a few days after their infamous visit to Trump Tower where they had met the then president-elect after waiting in the building for six hours. “What’s wrong with that? We gave them a telephone number,” Banks said.
Wigmore told the MPs he had obtained the number after he supplied one for 10 Downing St to a receptionist for Trump. According to Wigmore, she has said: “This young girl said, ‘You’re British, do you have the telephone number for No 10 Downing Street? We do have not relationship with the British or any of these governments.’” Wigmore added: “I said, ‘What if somebody wants to get in touch with you?’ and she said, ‘Here’s a number, you can give them that.’”Wigmore told the MPs he had obtained the number after he supplied one for 10 Downing St to a receptionist for Trump. According to Wigmore, she has said: “This young girl said, ‘You’re British, do you have the telephone number for No 10 Downing Street? We do have not relationship with the British or any of these governments.’” Wigmore added: “I said, ‘What if somebody wants to get in touch with you?’ and she said, ‘Here’s a number, you can give them that.’”
Earlier, it emerged that Banks had lodged an appeal against the Electoral Commission over its decision to levy a £70,000 fine against Leave.EU for breaching its spending limits. Collins told the committee that as a result it would not be possible for the committee to explore related areas. The commission is also conducting a separate inquiry into the “true source” of Banks’ loans and donations to Leave.EU and Ukip, which amount to at least £9m.Earlier, it emerged that Banks had lodged an appeal against the Electoral Commission over its decision to levy a £70,000 fine against Leave.EU for breaching its spending limits. Collins told the committee that as a result it would not be possible for the committee to explore related areas. The commission is also conducting a separate inquiry into the “true source” of Banks’ loans and donations to Leave.EU and Ukip, which amount to at least £9m.
The hearing began with an attempt by the two men to unbalance the chair, Damian Collins, by pointing out that according to the register of members’ interests he had received hospitality and two tickets from Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea to watch a game against Crystal Palace. Wigmore said that “in the light of hospitality from Putin’s No 1 man in London, you might recuse yourself”.The hearing began with an attempt by the two men to unbalance the chair, Damian Collins, by pointing out that according to the register of members’ interests he had received hospitality and two tickets from Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea to watch a game against Crystal Palace. Wigmore said that “in the light of hospitality from Putin’s No 1 man in London, you might recuse yourself”.
Collins told the witnesses that that was a “nice try” and that while he watched the match, he had not met Abramovich. The committee chair added that he “wasn’t offered Stalin’s vodka” and he had “no shares in goldmines” and, in response to a suggestion from Banks, added there were “no honey traps”. The MP said: “Chelsea won 2-1, that was the extent of the entertainment.”Collins told the witnesses that that was a “nice try” and that while he watched the match, he had not met Abramovich. The committee chair added that he “wasn’t offered Stalin’s vodka” and he had “no shares in goldmines” and, in response to a suggestion from Banks, added there were “no honey traps”. The MP said: “Chelsea won 2-1, that was the extent of the entertainment.”
BrexitBrexit
Arron BanksArron Banks
House of CommonsHouse of Commons
European UnionEuropean Union
RussiaRussia
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