Arron Banks | |
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| Born | Arron Fraser Andrew Banks 1966 (age 57–58) Cheshire, England |
| Education | |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 5 |
| External image | |
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 Image by huffingtonpost.co.uk |
Arron Fraser Andrew Banks (born 1966) is a British businessman and political donor.[1] He is the co-founder (with Richard Tice) of the Leave.EU campaign.[2][3] Banks was previously one of the largest donors to the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and helped Nigel Farage's campaign for Britain to leave the EU.
In November 2018 the National Crime Agency opened an investigation into Banks following concerns raised over the source of his funding.[4] In September 2019, the National Crime Agency dropped its investigations into Banks and Leave.EU. The NCA found "no evidence that any criminal offences have been committed."[5]
He was reported to have had multiple meetings with Russian embassy officials[6] as well as being offered business opportunities in Russia in the run-up to the Brexit referendum.[7][8][9] He has denied any wrongdoing and said: "There was no Russian money and no interference of any type."[10] In May 2020, The Electoral Commission, who had referred Banks to the NCA for investigation of these allegations, conceded Banks did not break electoral law during the 2016 EU referendum campaign. Banks said he had been "completely vindicated" after reaching a settlement with the Electoral Commission.[11]
His 2016 book The Bad Boys of Brexit: Tales of Mischief, Mayhem & Guerrilla Warfare in the EU Referendum Campaign was ghostwritten by pro-Brexit journalist Isabel Oakeshott.[12][13] It was reported in March 2017 that Banks was no longer a member of UKIP.[14]
- ^ Caesar, Ed. "The Chaotic Triumph of Arron Banks, the "Bad Boy of Brexit"; The U.K. is in a panic over voters' decision to withdraw from the E.U. But the pugnacious millionaire whose donations—and Trumpian scare tactics—helped sway Britons has no regrets". The New Yorker. No. 25 March 2019. pp. 32–43. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
- ^ Laville, Sandra (10 June 2018). "Arron Banks: self-styled bad boy and bankroller of Brexit". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
- ^ Hope, Christopher (11 July 2015). "Millionaire Jim Mellon backs £20million 'anti-politics' campaign to leave EU as name revealed". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- ^ Honeycombe, Matt (1 November 2018). "National Crime Agency launches probe into top Brexiteer Arron Banks over referendum campaign loans". PoliticsHome.com. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
- ^ "Public statement on NCA investigation into suspected EU referendum offences". National Crime Agency. 24 September 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2019.
- ^ "Revealed: Leave.EU campaign met Russian officials as many as 11 times". The Guardian. 8 July 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
guardmultiplewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
nytofferedwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cadwalladr, Carole; Jukes, Peter (16 June 2018). "Leave. EU faces new questions over contacts with Russia". The Guardian.
- Cadwalladr, Carole (16 June 2018). "Arron Banks, Brexit and the Russia connection". The Guardian.
- "Long Read: The Arron Banks allegations", Channel Four News, 27 July 2018 - ^ "Brexit: Arron Banks challenged over Leave.EU funds". BBC News. 4 November 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
- ^ "Leave.EU founder Arron Banks did not break electoral law". The Daily Telegraph. 1 May 2020.
- ^ Banks, Arron (2016). The Bad Boys of Brexit. Biteback Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78590-182-9.
- ^ Waterson, Jim (11 June 2018). "Profile: Isabel Oakeshott and The Bad Boys of Brexit; Journalist at centre of storm over leaked emails linking Brexit campaign donor with Russian officials". theguardian.com. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
- ^ Hughes, Laura (14 March 2017). "Ukip 'suspends' donor Aaron Banks from the party". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 14 March 2017.