British businessman Arron Banks
The UK National Crime Agency (NCA) said on Thursday it had started an investigation into British businessman Arron Banks, who financed one of the main campaigns for Britain to leave the EU.
"This follows our acceptance of a referral of material from the Electoral Commission," the NCA said.
"While electoral law offences would not routinely fall within the NCA’s remit, the nature of the necessary inquiries and the potential for offences to have been committed other than under electoral law lead us to consider an NCA investigation appropriate in this instance."
Banks, who ahead of the 2016 Brexit referendum financed Leave.EU, a campaign led by Nigel Farage, then the leader of the UK Independence Party, has faced questions in parliament about the source of his wealth.
He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
Brexit campaigner Banks welcomes investigation
Arron Banks on Thursday welcomed a National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation and added that he had never received any foreign - or Russian - funding for one of the main campaigns for Britain to leave the EU.
"We welcome this investigation as it is an opportunity for us to clear up the matter," Banks told Reuters. "Rock holdings is a company I own and control and I’m a U.K. tax payer, no Russian or foreign money has ever come into it."
"The electoral commission have said offences may have been committed but have provided no evidence," Banks said. "As usual the Electoral Commission is batting for the Remainers in parliament."
Prime Minster Theresa May's spokesman said reports that Britain was close to securing a deal to give it basic access to EU financial markets were speculation, and negotiations were ongoing."This is speculation. While we continue to make good progress agreeing new arrangements for financial services, negotiations are ongoing," the spokesman said.The reported deal would be based on equivalence, meaning that the UK would have access to the EU similar to that of major U.S. and Japanese firms, but the spokesman said on Thursday that Britain's objective was to go beyond existing equivalence regimes.UK, EU close to Brexit deal on financial services: UK official
PM May's spokesman says reports of UK-EU financial services deal are speculation
A deal that would give UK-based financial services firms basic access to European Union markets after Brexit is nearly done, a British official said.The Times newspaper reported that a tentative deal had been reached on all aspects of a future partnership on services, as well as the exchange of data. "We are making progress," the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, adding that the financial services deal would be based on the EU's existing "equivalence" system.Currently, as an EU member, banks and insurers in Britain enjoy unfettered access to customers across the bloc in all financial activities. Equivalence, however, covers a more limited range of business and excludes major activities such as commercial bank lending.New Brexit vote may hamper independence goal, Scottish lawmaker saysA financial services deal may be expected if an overall Brexit agreement is struck this month, the official said.The pound jumped, rising to $1.2904.London, which has been a critical artery for the flow of money around the world for centuries, is the world's largest centre of international finance. While New York is by some measures bigger, it is more centred on American markets.Many bankers and politicians predicted after the June 2016 referendum that leaving the EU would prompt a mass exodus of jobs and business, dealing a crippling blow to London's position in global finance.No second referendum on Brexit: PM MayBREXIT AND THE CITYGlobal banks operating in the UK have already moved some staff and reorganised some operations ahead of Britain's departure from the European Union, due on March 29.Britain's Financial Conduct Authority said on Wednesday that UK financial rules should stay aligned with those in the EU after Brexit, a basic condition for Brussels to grant equivalence.Faced with having Europe's biggest financial centre on its doorstep, the EU has begun tightening conditions for equivalence in areas such as clearing derivatives and investment banking.Under the current system, Brussels can scrap an equivalence designation within 30 days in some cases - a step it has never taken - and Britain has called for a far longer notice period.Britain on Wednesday said there was no set date for Brexit talks to finish, backtracking from a letter by Brexit minister Dominic Raab that suggested a deal on the terms of its departure could be finalised by Nov. 21. UK, Norway agree right to remain for their citizensBritain's May says not preparing for general election
UK, EU close to Brexit deal on financial services: UK official