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Brexit fine: Ex-Vote Leave chairwoman does not apologise over spend | Brexit fine: Ex-Vote Leave chairwoman does not apologise over spend |
(about 16 hours later) | |
The ex-chairwoman of the official pro-Brexit campaign has sidestepped calls to apologise after the group dropped its appeal over a spending fine. | The ex-chairwoman of the official pro-Brexit campaign has sidestepped calls to apologise after the group dropped its appeal over a spending fine. |
The Electoral Commission fined Vote Leave £61,000 after ruling it exceeded spending limits during the referendum. | The Electoral Commission fined Vote Leave £61,000 after ruling it exceeded spending limits during the referendum. |
Asked by the BBC if she would say sorry, Gisela Stuart instead defended the organisation's record. | Asked by the BBC if she would say sorry, Gisela Stuart instead defended the organisation's record. |
The watchdog had said: "Serious offences such as these undermine public confidence in our system." | The watchdog had said: "Serious offences such as these undermine public confidence in our system." |
Vote Leave - which was fronted by Boris Johnson and Michael Gove - was fined in July for spending more than the £7m spending limit. | Vote Leave - which was fronted by Boris Johnson and Michael Gove - was fined in July for spending more than the £7m spending limit. |
The campaign said at the time the watchdog's findings were "wholly inaccurate" and politically motivated. | The campaign said at the time the watchdog's findings were "wholly inaccurate" and politically motivated. |
But on Friday - the day MPs voted on Theresa May's withdrawal agreement - the campaign dropped its appeal, saying it had run out of money to pursue the case. | But on Friday - the day MPs voted on Theresa May's withdrawal agreement - the campaign dropped its appeal, saying it had run out of money to pursue the case. |
When asked on the Andrew Marr Show if she would apologise, the former Labour MP replied: "At every stage we were rule-compliant according to the legal advice we were given at the time. | When asked on the Andrew Marr Show if she would apologise, the former Labour MP replied: "At every stage we were rule-compliant according to the legal advice we were given at the time. |
"Our biggest problem was that we destroyed all our data and therefore some of the evidential basis people were asking for." | "Our biggest problem was that we destroyed all our data and therefore some of the evidential basis people were asking for." |
She said laws governing spending - and the way they are interpreted by watchdogs such as the Electoral Commission - "needed rewriting". | She said laws governing spending - and the way they are interpreted by watchdogs such as the Electoral Commission - "needed rewriting". |
She also argued that the Remain side of the campaign spent more money than the Leave side anyway. | She also argued that the Remain side of the campaign spent more money than the Leave side anyway. |
According to the Electoral Commission, the Remain campaign spent £19,309,588 and the Leave campaign spent £13,332,569 on the EU referendum. | |
The Vote Leave campaign was found to have funnelled £675,315 through pro-Brexit youth group BeLeave, days before the referendum in 2016. | The Vote Leave campaign was found to have funnelled £675,315 through pro-Brexit youth group BeLeave, days before the referendum in 2016. |
This helped ensure it did not breach the £7m spending limit. | This helped ensure it did not breach the £7m spending limit. |
The founder of BeLeave, Darren Grimes, was fined £20,000 and referred to the police, along with Vote Leave official David Halsall. | The founder of BeLeave, Darren Grimes, was fined £20,000 and referred to the police, along with Vote Leave official David Halsall. |
Vote Leave bosses say they were given the go-ahead to give the money to BeLeave and they acted within the rules. | Vote Leave bosses say they were given the go-ahead to give the money to BeLeave and they acted within the rules. |
But the commission found there was "significant evidence of joint working" between Mr Grimes and Vote Leave, and Vote Leave should have declared the spending as its own. | But the commission found there was "significant evidence of joint working" between Mr Grimes and Vote Leave, and Vote Leave should have declared the spending as its own. |
On Friday, an Electoral Commission spokesman said: "Vote Leave has today withdrawn its appeal and related proceedings against the Electoral Commission's finding of multiple offences under electoral law. | On Friday, an Electoral Commission spokesman said: "Vote Leave has today withdrawn its appeal and related proceedings against the Electoral Commission's finding of multiple offences under electoral law. |
"Serious offences such as these undermine public confidence in our system and it is vital they are properly investigated and sanctioned. | "Serious offences such as these undermine public confidence in our system and it is vital they are properly investigated and sanctioned. |
"We look forward to receiving the sum in full." | "We look forward to receiving the sum in full." |
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