The Cambridge Analytica controversy surrounding the official Brexit campaign reached Downing Street on Sunday, as campaigners sent a letter to Theresa May asking for a full investigation into what her cabinet members and staff might have known.
This letter from the anti-Brexit group Best for Britain followed a whistleblower’s claim to the Observer that Vote Leave funneled money through another campaign to a company connected with the data firm Cambridge Analytica, possibly breaking electoral laws.
These accusations immediately put Boris Johnson and Michael Gove, who were key figures in Vote Leave, under scrutiny.
What are the Cambridge Analytica files explainer
Over the weekend, Theresa May herself faced criticism after Downing Street was accused of revealing that whistleblower Shahmir Sanni is gay in an official statement released Friday. This was in response to claims Sanni made about Stephen Parkinson – one of May’s aides and former senior Vote Leave official – being involved in misconduct during the campaign.
Sanni said his family back in Pakistan, where homosexuality is illegal, could now be at risk because of this outing.
Sanni raised concerns with the Observer about a £625,000 donation from Vote Leave to Be Leave, an independent campaign group that allegedly passed funds on to Aggregate IQ (AIQ), a digital firm linked to Cambridge Analytica.
In their letter, Best for Britain asked:
What did Michael Gove and Boris Johnson know about how Vote Leave worked with AIQ? Will the prime minister look into what they knew about these allegations?
Will Gove and Johnson step aside from the Brexit “war cabinet” while this is looked into?
Does Theresa May plan to check out what No 10 staff mentioned in reports knew or did?
Was No 10 involved in outing Sanni?
Were any government emails, phones or other gear used?
This letter came just as new revelations kept coming about leave campaigns and Cambridge Analytica’s role.
Sanni claimed that this £625,000 donation broke electoral rules since Vote Leave shared office space with Be Leave and had some control over them. Rules say groups coordinating spending must stick within combined limits. Vote Leave denies they coordinated like that.
He also said after an Electoral Commission investigation began, senior Vote Leave people started deleting evidence from files shared by both groups. Dominic Cummings, director of the official Brexit campaign, called those claims “factually wrong and libellous.” Vote Leave said any deleted data was handled “ethically, responsibly and legally.”
In an interview with Channel 4 News, Sanni said: “I know that Vote Leave cheated.. I know that people have been lied to and that the referendum wasn’t legitimate.”
He added: “In effect, they used Be Leave to overspend, and not just by a small amount.. Almost two-thirds of a million pounds makes all the difference, and it wasn’t legal.”
The Brexit whistleblower: ‘Not cheating is the core of what it means to be British’ – video
Senior figures at Vote Leave quickly denied these accusations.
On Saturday night soon after news broke, Boris Johnson called these claims “utterly ludicrous,” saying Vote Leave won fairly “fair and square – and legally.”
Michael Gove didn’t directly respond to wrongdoing charges but framed it as questioning voters’ choice.
“I respect those who voted remain. But 17.4 million people chose leave freely in a fair vote which must be respected. Now we need to work on healing divisions,” he said.
Andrea Leadsom – Commons leader and strong Vote Leave supporter – took a more cautious tone on Sky News: “It’s up to Electoral Commission really. They need to look carefully at these matters. There have been investigations before without findings against us.”
When asked if proven claims would question referendum legitimacy she replied: “We should wait for Electoral Commission results.”
Stephen Parkinson also denied allegations personally via No 10 statement calling them “factually incorrect and misleading.”>Downing Street wouldn ’ t say on Sunday if May still fully trusts Parkinson. A source said answers would come Monday.
Parkinson is among several key players likely looked at by investigators who now hold important roles in May ’ s government. He may face calls himself stepping aside while probe runs.
On Sunday , Labour deputy leader Tom Watson told BBC One ’ s The Andrew Marr Show : ” Theresa May needs make sure Electoral Commission has enough resources for full probe into alleged criminal collusion.
“Let’s remember , leaders of these campaigns are now cabinet members , so we need check if they knew anything. That ’ s why extra support is needed , even police involvement if necessary.”
An Electoral Commission spokeswoman commented : ” We have multiple ongoing investigations related to EU referendum campaigns ; we don ’ t comment on live cases.”
The Observer
The Observer has been around since1791 as world ’ s oldest Sunday paper. It belongs Guardian News & Media but works independently.
