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Labour demands investigation into Vote Leave ministers Labour demands investigation into Vote Leave ministers
(35 minutes later)
Labour has called for ministers who were key members of Vote Leave to be investigated for possible misconduct after the Electoral Commission fined the campaign £61,000 and reported it the police. Labour has called for ministers and former ministers who were key members of Vote Leave to be investigated for possible misconduct after the Electoral Commission fined the campaign £61,000 and reported it the police.
The watchdog said it found “significant evidence” of coordination between Vote Leave and another campaign group, BeLeave, during the 2016 EU referendum. It said it had imposed punitive fines because the group had refused to cooperate fully. The watchdog said it found “significant evidence” of coordination between Vote Leave and another campaign group, BeLeave, during the 2016 EU referendum. It said it had imposed fines because the group had refused to cooperate fully.
During an urgent question in the House of Commons on the report, Labour said the cabinet secretary, Jeremy Heywood, should investigate whether ministers and ex-ministers such as Michael Gove and Boris Johnson, who were key figures in Vote Leave, had broken the ministerial code.During an urgent question in the House of Commons on the report, Labour said the cabinet secretary, Jeremy Heywood, should investigate whether ministers and ex-ministers such as Michael Gove and Boris Johnson, who were key figures in Vote Leave, had broken the ministerial code.
The long-awaited report said it had found evidence BeLeave spent more than £675,000 with data firm Aggregate IQ coordinated with Vote Leave, which should have been declared by the Brexit campaign group. The long-awaited report said it had found evidence BeLeave spent more than £675,000 with the data company Aggregate IQ coordinated with Vote Leave, which should have been declared by the Brexit campaign group.
Vote Leave exceeded its legal spending limit of £7m by almost £500,000, the watchdog found.Vote Leave exceeded its legal spending limit of £7m by almost £500,000, the watchdog found.
Darren Grimes, the founder of BeLeave, and the Vote Leave official David Halsall have been reported to the police. Vote Leave has been fined £61,000 and Grimes £20,000.Darren Grimes, the founder of BeLeave, and the Vote Leave official David Halsall have been reported to the police. Vote Leave has been fined £61,000 and Grimes £20,000.
Christian Matheson, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, said the report showed the Vote Leave campaign was “based on cheating and law-breaking”.Christian Matheson, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, said the report showed the Vote Leave campaign was “based on cheating and law-breaking”.
“It showed a contempt for the law set by this house, which makes a mockery of claims to take back control and displays a breathtaking arrogance of people who clearly believed that the law of the land did not apply to them,” he said.“It showed a contempt for the law set by this house, which makes a mockery of claims to take back control and displays a breathtaking arrogance of people who clearly believed that the law of the land did not apply to them,” he said.
Matheson said Johnson and Gove, as well as other ministers or ex-ministers involved in Vote Leave such as Priti Patel and Chris Grayling, should “come to the house and explain their role in both the initial scandal and the cover-up”. Matheson said Johnson and Gove, as well as other ministers and ex-ministers involved in Vote Leave such as Priti Patel and Chris Grayling, should “come to the house and explain their role in both the initial scandal and the cover-up”.
He said: “If the leaders of the Vote Leave campaign cannot be trusted to abide by the rules of the referendum, how can we trust them to abide by the rules of any future election, or indeed how can we trust them to conduct their ministerial duties with honour, integrity and honesty?”He said: “If the leaders of the Vote Leave campaign cannot be trusted to abide by the rules of the referendum, how can we trust them to abide by the rules of any future election, or indeed how can we trust them to conduct their ministerial duties with honour, integrity and honesty?”
Heywood should examine whether their conduct broke the ministerial code, Matheson said.Heywood should examine whether their conduct broke the ministerial code, Matheson said.
The Labour MP Chuka Umunna, who secured the debate, said Vote Leave’s actions were “an affront to our democracy and that fundamental British value of fair play”.The Labour MP Chuka Umunna, who secured the debate, said Vote Leave’s actions were “an affront to our democracy and that fundamental British value of fair play”.
He said: “Given there was a 4% gap between leave and remain, and Vote Leave overspent by just under 8%, does the minister agree with me that we cannot say with confidence that this foul play did not impact on the result?”He said: “Given there was a 4% gap between leave and remain, and Vote Leave overspent by just under 8%, does the minister agree with me that we cannot say with confidence that this foul play did not impact on the result?”
The Cabinet Office minister, Chloe Smith, said she could not comment on ongoing police investigations, or on the potential actions of people not named in the report. The Cabinet Office minister, Chloe Smith, said she could not comment on ongoing police investigations or on the potential actions of people not named in the report.
The Electoral Commission is independent and had been effective, Smith said. She added, to jeers from some MPs: “The point is this: we need to be able to say to the public that are watching this debate, that we are getting on with delivering the result of the referendum in which they voted.” The Electoral Commission is independent and had been effective, Smith said. To jeers from some MPs, she added: “The point is this: we need to be able to say to the public that are watching this debate, that we are getting on with delivering the result of the referendum in which they voted.”
Several Conservative MPs expressed alarm at the commission’s ruling. The senior backbencher Sarah Wollaston called for the referendum vote to be held again. “Consequences must follow. We cannot have confidence that this referendum was secure, and it should be re-run,” she said.Several Conservative MPs expressed alarm at the commission’s ruling. The senior backbencher Sarah Wollaston called for the referendum vote to be held again. “Consequences must follow. We cannot have confidence that this referendum was secure, and it should be re-run,” she said.
Amber Rudd, the former home secretary, said the government must not “obfuscate from real questions that are being raised”.Amber Rudd, the former home secretary, said the government must not “obfuscate from real questions that are being raised”.
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