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Nigel Farage: Party funding claims 'a disgusting smear' Nigel Farage: Party funding claims 'a disgusting smear'
(30 minutes later)
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage has accused Gordon Brown of "a disgusting smear" in a row over party funding.Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage has accused Gordon Brown of "a disgusting smear" in a row over party funding.
The ex-PM accused The Brexit Party - which is riding high in polls ahead of the European elections - of receiving a large amount of money via small "undeclared, untraceable payments".The ex-PM accused The Brexit Party - which is riding high in polls ahead of the European elections - of receiving a large amount of money via small "undeclared, untraceable payments".
The ex-prime minister has asked the Electoral Commission to investigate.The ex-prime minister has asked the Electoral Commission to investigate.
The commission said it would go to The Brexit Party's office on Tuesday "to review the systems in place".The commission said it would go to The Brexit Party's office on Tuesday "to review the systems in place".
"If there's evidence that the law may have been broken, we will consider that in line with our enforcement policy," a spokesperson said."If there's evidence that the law may have been broken, we will consider that in line with our enforcement policy," a spokesperson said.
'Roubles or dollars''Roubles or dollars'
Under the rules governing donations, amounts below £500 do not have to be declared.Under the rules governing donations, amounts below £500 do not have to be declared.
An official donation of £500 or more must be given by a "permissible donor", who should either be somebody listed on the UK electoral roll or a business registered at Companies House and operating in the UK.An official donation of £500 or more must be given by a "permissible donor", who should either be somebody listed on the UK electoral roll or a business registered at Companies House and operating in the UK.
Mr Brown said there was no way of telling whether donations to The Brexit Party - which can be made through PayPal - come from British or foreign sources.Mr Brown said there was no way of telling whether donations to The Brexit Party - which can be made through PayPal - come from British or foreign sources.
"You can pay to this party in Russian roubles or American dollars," he said."You can pay to this party in Russian roubles or American dollars," he said.
"Democracy is ill served, and trust in democracy will continue to be undermined, if we have no answers as to where the money is coming from," he added."Democracy is ill served, and trust in democracy will continue to be undermined, if we have no answers as to where the money is coming from," he added.
Pro-EU Labour MP Chris Bryant has also raised concerns, arguing: "It would be simple for a foreign power or individual to fund [The Brexit Party] by paying hundreds or thousands of £499 in sterling or other currencies as the party does not even verify names."
Responding to the Mr Brown's comments, Mr Farage said: "Most of our money has been raised by people giving £25 to become registered supporters."Responding to the Mr Brown's comments, Mr Farage said: "Most of our money has been raised by people giving £25 to become registered supporters."
"And over 110,000 of them now have done that. And frankly, this smacks of jealousy because the other parties simply can't do this.""And over 110,000 of them now have done that. And frankly, this smacks of jealousy because the other parties simply can't do this."
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said there were "questions obviously that have to be answered".
He called for "a full and open and transparent, independent inquiry into the funding of Mr Farage".
'Conflict of interest''Conflict of interest'
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Brexit Party chairman Richard Tice said: "We've got a PayPal account for people paying less than £500; above that we apply the appropriate Electoral Commission rules."Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Brexit Party chairman Richard Tice said: "We've got a PayPal account for people paying less than £500; above that we apply the appropriate Electoral Commission rules."
Asked if he could confirm whether the party takes cash from foreign citizens, Mr Tice said: "I don't sit in front of the PayPal account all day so I don't know what currencies people are paying in, but, as I understand it, the PayPal takes it in sterling."Asked if he could confirm whether the party takes cash from foreign citizens, Mr Tice said: "I don't sit in front of the PayPal account all day so I don't know what currencies people are paying in, but, as I understand it, the PayPal takes it in sterling."
In 2013 the Electoral Commission issued guidance to parties that "if a donor makes regular payments for an unspecified donation and towards an unspecified total amount, our view is that these payments should be treated as separate donations."In 2013 the Electoral Commission issued guidance to parties that "if a donor makes regular payments for an unspecified donation and towards an unspecified total amount, our view is that these payments should be treated as separate donations."
During his speech, Gordon Brown also attacked Nigel Farage for receiving £450,000 from Leave campaigner Aaron Banks while still a member of the European Parliament. During his speech, Gordon Brown also attacked Nigel Farage for receiving £450,000 from Leave campaigner Arron Banks while still a member of the European Parliament.
Mr Brown said The Brexit Party leader should have declared the payments he was receiving "to avoid a conflict of interest".Mr Brown said The Brexit Party leader should have declared the payments he was receiving "to avoid a conflict of interest".
However, Mr Farage has said he did not declare it to the European Parliament because he was about to leave politics and had been seeking a new life in the US.However, Mr Farage has said he did not declare it to the European Parliament because he was about to leave politics and had been seeking a new life in the US.
Lib Dem MEP Catherine Bearder has written to the President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani calling for an investigation into the matter. Lib Dem MEP Catherine Bearder has written to the President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani calling for an investigation into the matter. Green MEP Molly Scott Cato said she had also referred Mr Farage to the European Anti-Fraud Office.