VOTE Leave may have spent £625,000 more than they were allowed to during the EU referendum, according to a legal opinion published by a parliamentary committee.
The document, prepared by Matrix Chambers, for Westminster’s Culture, Media and Sport committee, backed up claims from whistleblowers that Vote Leave, the official campaign group, fronted by Michael Gove and Boris Johnson, got round spending limits by passing money on to another Brexit campaign group, BeLeave.
This money was then channelled to a digital services firm, on behalf of Vote Leave.
“We consider that there is a prima facie case that ... electoral offences were committed by Vote Leave in the EU referendum campaign,” the legal opinion prepared by the law firm Matrix Chambers said.
“These require urgent investigation so that consideration can be given to whether to refer the case to the Crown Prosecution Service for a decision on whether to prosecute,” the opinion added.
A spokeswoman for the committee said the Members of Parliament did not commission the legal opinion and it was submitted as part of evidence.
The release came as yet another Vote Leave whistleblower accused his own campaign of cheating in the referendum.
Communications officer, Mark Gettleson, has made a submission through lawyers to the Electoral Commission, which includes invoices for BeLeave charged to Vote Leave.
His lawyer said this was proof BeLeave was part of Vote Leave, and that the money spent by BeLeave should have been part of Vote Leave’s £7 million spending limit.
Vote Leave has long denied the claims.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Remain supporters will be out across Scotland today, calling for a second vote on the European referendum. Organisers Open Britain, the European Movement and Britain for Europe say the UK-wide mobilisation of anti-Brexiteers will be the biggest pro- European national day of action.
The campaigners will be promoting the launch of a new “People’s Vote” campaign, calling for the British people to have a vote on the Brexit deal.
Juuso Jarviniemi, President of the Young European Movement, said: “We are out here today in Edinburgh with other pro-European groups to persuade the Scottish people that we should all have a say on the final Brexit deal. Scotland voted clearly to remain and that’s why its people should get the chance to vote on the final Brexit deal.
“It would be fair and democratic.”
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