Corbyn: May must guarantee top Tories in Vote Leave co-operate with police probe

BREAKING: Jeremy Corbyn gave Theresa May a grilling for the first time in PMQs about Vote Leave failing to co-operate with the Electoral Commission’s investigation into breaking electoral laws.

He demanded the senior Conservatives in the Vote Leave campaign comply with the police investigation now that the Electoral Commission has referred Vote Leave’s campaign in the EU referendum to the police.

In a rowdy exchange, Corbyn said May’s government had “sunk into a mire of chaos and division” on Brexit.

Vote Leave has been fined and referred to police after exceeding its spending limit by almost half a million pounds in the referendum.

An investigation by the Electoral Commission found “significant evidence of joint working” between the group and another organisation – BeLeave – leading to it exceeding its spending limit by almost £500,000.

Vote Leave also returned an “incomplete and inaccurate spending report”, with almost £234,501 reported incorrectly, and invoices missing for £12,849.99 of spending, the watchdog said.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove and Boris Johnson who recently resigned as Foreign Secretary both sat on the campaign committee of Vote Leave. Other prominent Tories who also did include Liam Fox, Iain Duncan Smith, Dominic Raab, Steve Baker, Chris Grayling, Priti Patel and Lord Lawson.

In the last Prime Ministers Question before a summer recess that can’t come too early for Theresa May facing mass resignations and a lead in the polls by Labour, the Labour Leader brought up the breach of election law.

“People are losing trust in this government,” said Jeremy Corbyn.

“The transport secretary, the international trade secretary and now the Brexit secretary were all members of the Vote Leave campaign committee. The environment secretary was the co-chair. They’ve been referred to the police by the Electoral Commission, having refused to cooperate with the Electoral Commission. Will the Prime Minister guarantee that her Cabinet ministers will fully cooperate with the police investigation?”

“I actually question the way in which he put his question,” retorted Theresa May. “Mr Speaker he has made an accusation in this House against members of this House… The Rt Hon Gentleman has made an accusation in this House against individual members of this House and of the Government. And I suggest that when he stands up he reflects on whether or not it was correct to do so.”

The Prime Minister demanded that the Leader of The Opposition withdraw his comments, adding: “I would expect that all those involved and required to do so will give the evidence that is required and respond appropriately to any questions that are raised with them. But I say again to the Rt Hon Gentleman, I think he should stand up, think very carefully about making accusations of individual members and withdraw.”

Both May and Corbyn were interrupted by loud roars and House of Commons Speaker John Bercow demanded they be allowed to speak in a fraught PMQs.

The Labour Leader rose to his feet in rowdy scenes and explained that he was stating fact.

“I stated the fact that the Electoral Commission has made that reference. That’s what I said. I asked the Prime Minister for a guarantee that her ministers will cooperate with the police on any investigations that may make.

“That is not judgmental, that is a guarantee they will cooperate. These are serious issues. The current Cabinet ministers were indeed central to the Vote Leave campaign,” explained Corbyn,

“After two years of dither and delay, the Government has sunk into a mire of chaos and division. The agreement that was supposed to unite the Cabinet led to the Cabinet falling apart within 48 hours. And on Monday the Government u-turned to make their own White Paper proposals unlawful.”

Vote Leave fined and referred to police for breaking electoral law