Watchdog 'believes Brexit Campaign Broke Spending Rules'
Umer Jamshaid Published July 04, 2018 | 03:31 PM
Britain's election watchdog believes the official Brexit campaign broke spending rules in the 2016 EU referendum, the campaign itself revealed Wednesday.
London, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 4th Jul, 2018 ) :Britain's election watchdog believes the official Brexit campaign broke spending rules in the 2016 EU referendum, the campaign itself revealed Wednesday.
Vote Leave, which had support from leading eurosceptic Boris Johnson, said the Electoral Commission has concluded that it coordinated with a smaller pro-Brexit group whose expenditure should have counted towards its own spending limits.
It revealed the initial findings before they were published -- a move the Commission described as "unusual" -- in a pre-emptive move to rebut the claims, saying the watchdog had acted unfairly.
If found guilty Vote Leave could face a major fine, but the issue has wider significance about whether the still deeply divisive decision to leave the European Union was fair.
The group is accused of diverting a donation of more than �600,000 (680,000 Euros) to a smaller pro-Brexit group, BeLeave, run by a young fashion student, in a bid to avoid breaching its own �7 million legal spending limit.
While this is not illegal, whistleblowers have accused the two groups of coordinating their activities, which is.
In a detailed rebuttal note, Vote Leave said the Electoral Commission had interviewed no senior member of its staff in the last two years of investigations into its spending, and said the allegations would "not stand up to scrutiny".
"I think it is a huge breach of natural justice that they haven't wanted to listen to our opinions and our story and we were the people running the campaign," the group's former chief executive, Matthew Elliot, told Sky news television.
A spokesman for the Electoral Commission said that, having reached initial findings, it had given Vote Leave 28 days to make further representations, a period that ended on Tuesday.
"The unusual step taken by Vote Leave in sharing its views on the Electoral Commission's initial findings does not affect the process set out in law," he said.
"The commission will give due consideration to the representations made... We will then, at the earliest opportunity, publish a thorough and detailed closing report."
Recent Stories
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 28 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 28 April 2024
Fresh wave of rainfall in AJK continues for the second consecutive day
Babar, bowlers help Pakistan level series 2-2 against New Zealand
Attack in restive Chilean province leaves three police officers dead
PM, Saudi Royal court advisor discuss ways to boost economic ties
England clinch third successive Women's Six Nations Grand Slam
DC Bahawalnagar leads fight for fair bread prices
Sheffield Utd relegated from Premier League
02 proclaimed offenders arrested by Wah Police
Pakistan level T20I series with nine-run victory over New Zealand
Minister meets Chinese Consul General, discusses bilateral cooperation, Chinese ..
More Stories From World
-
Football: French Ligue 1 table
2 hours ago -
Inter continue Serie A title party as Bologna slip in Champions League bid
2 hours ago -
Paris Saint-Germain win Ligue 1 title after Monaco defeat
2 hours ago -
Man City see off Forest to close on Premier League leaders Arsenal
3 hours ago -
Italian PM Meloni says will stand in EU elections
3 hours ago -
Masood Khan hails Pakistani-American physicians role in upgrading Pakistan's healthcare system; also ..
3 hours ago
-
Celtic down Dundee to stay on course for Scottish Premiership crown
4 hours ago -
Ireland will act to send asylum seekers back to UK: PM
4 hours ago -
Kainz keeps Cologne's hope alive with late equaliser at Mainz
4 hours ago -
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results - 1st update
4 hours ago -
Inter continue Serie A title party as Bologna slip in Champions League bid
4 hours ago -
Masood Khan hails Pakistani-American physicians role in upgrading Pakistan's healthcare system; also ..
4 hours ago