MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Investigations have been opened into at least four campaigners for the 2016 nationwide referendum on EU membership, the UK Electoral Commission said Friday in a statement.
"Investigations have been opened into the spending returns submitted by both the lead campaigners – The IN Campaign Limited (‘Britain Stronger in Europe’) and Vote Leave Limited – as well as the Liberal Democrats, and Mr Peter Harris," the press release said.
According to the document, the Commission has to further the spending returns of five other campaigners to decide whether to open a formal probe or not.
The press release stated that the two lead campaigners and the Liberal Democrats failed to produce all necessary invoices, receipts and supplier details, while individual campaigner Peter Harris's spending return came in late and without the audit report.
According to the Commission, 123 campaigners registered for the referendum, 63 for the Remain camp, 60 for Leave. The Remain campaigners spent 19 million pounds (about $23.8 million) in the period between April 15 and June 23, while Leave's spending in the same period equaled 13 million pounds ($16.3 million).
The referendum, held on June 23 last year, resulted in the victory for Leave campaign. UK Prime Minister Theresa May said the country would trigger the Article 50 of the EU Lisbon Treaty by the end of this March, thus beginning withdrawal negotiations.
