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Brexit: 'No evidence' of crimes by Leave.EU and Arron Banks | Brexit: 'No evidence' of crimes by Leave.EU and Arron Banks |
(32 minutes later) | |
The National Crime Agency has found "no evidence" of criminal offences after allegations against Leave.EU and its founder Arron Banks. | The National Crime Agency has found "no evidence" of criminal offences after allegations against Leave.EU and its founder Arron Banks. |
The agency launched an investigation into the pro-Brexit campaign group after it was fined £70,000 by the Electoral Commission in May last year. | The agency launched an investigation into the pro-Brexit campaign group after it was fined £70,000 by the Electoral Commission in May last year. |
But the NCA said it would not take any further action against Leave.EU, its chief executive Liz Bilney or Mr Banks. | But the NCA said it would not take any further action against Leave.EU, its chief executive Liz Bilney or Mr Banks. |
Tweeting after the ruling, Mr Banks said: "Victory is sweet." | Tweeting after the ruling, Mr Banks said: "Victory is sweet." |
Earlier this month, a criminal investigation into Leave.EU was also dropped by the Metropolitan Police as there was "insufficient evidence" to justify any further inquiry. | |
In response to the NCA decision, the Electoral Commission said it stood by the need for the investigations to ensure "voters have transparency" over political funding. | |
In a May 2018 report, the commission said Leave.EU had exceeded the spending limit for "non-party registered campaigners" by at least 10% by failing to include at least £77,380 in its spending return. | |
It also referred Ms Bilney to the police, saying its investigation found she had committed four offences, including submitting an inaccurate spending return and exceeding the spending limit. | |
But she claimed the investigations had stemmed from Remain-backing MPs "desperately trying to overturn the result of the referendum". | |
Brexit Party leader and former Leave.EU campaigner Nigel Farage said he was "pleased" the NCA had dropped its investigation, but "heads must roll" at the Electoral Commission. | |
Leave-backing Labour MP Kate Hoey called for those who "condemned Leave.EU to apologise". | |
Leave.EU was a rival to Vote Leave, which was designated as the official Leave campaign during the 2016 referendum campaign. |
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