The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) is investigating Brexit’s biggest funder Arron Banks over alleged offences committed during the EU referendum campaign, following a referral by the electoral watchdog.
The Electoral Commission, which conducted its own probe, said there were reasonable grounds to suspect that Mr Banks, who backed the pro-Brexit Leave.EU campaign, had not financed £8 million worth of funds to it.
The watchdog said it suspected the money had come "from impermissible sources".
“Due to multiple suspected offences, some of which fall outside the commission’s remit, the commission has referred this matter and handed its evidence to the National Crime Agency,” the Electoral Commission said in a statement.
The criminal investigation will focus on the businessman, a company called Better for the Country of which Mr Banks is the director and was used to finance the Leave.EU campaign as well as the Leave.EU group itself. Another senior figure in Leave.EU Liz Bilney was also referred to the NCA.
"Our investigation relates to suspected electoral law offences... as well as any associated offences," the NCA said in a statement on Thursday, adding that it could not discuss any "operational detail".
Politicians had called for the probe to discover whether any "dark money", in particular from Russia, had influenced the 2016 referendum.
UK law essentially bans financial donations being made to electoral campaigns from overseas or foreign donors.
Mr Banks said he “welcomed” investigation on Thursday and denied any foreign money had played a role in his campaign.
"The electoral commission have said offences may have been committed but have provided no evidence," he told Reuters. "As usual the Electoral Commission is batting for the Remainers in parliament."
Leave.EU was the unofficial pro-Brexit campaign supported by then UK Independence Party leader, Nigel Farage. It was separate to the official Vote Leave group, which was backed by senior politicians such as Boris Johnson and Michael Gove.
Mr Banks appeared before politicians earlier this summer to answer questions about his links to Russian officials in the lead up to the referendum.
He dismissed questions about his Russian connections as a "full-scale witch hunt", while admitting to having met up with Russia’s ambassador to Britain three times before June, 23 2016.
But after the parliamentary inquiry, reports surfaced that Mr Banks had actually met Alexander Yakovenko 11 times in the months before the vote, in which he was said to have discussed lucrative business deals.
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Read more:
MPs back probe into Brexit-backer’s donations
Brexit backer Arron Banks 'met Russian ambassador 11 times' before EU vote, report
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What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
The specs: 2019 Lincoln MKC
Price, base / as tested: Dh169,995 / Dh192,045
Engine: Turbocharged, 2.0-litre, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power: 253hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 389Nm @ 2,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.7L / 100km
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers Henderson, Pickford, Pope.
Defenders Alexander-Arnold, Chilwell, Coady, Dier, Gomez, Keane, Maguire, Maitland-Niles, Mings, Saka, Trippier, Walker.
Midfielders Henderson, Mount, Phillips, Rice, Ward-Prowse, Winks.
Forwards Abraham, Barnes, Calvert-Lewin, Grealish, Ings, Kane, Rashford, Sancho, Sterling.
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
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Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
