DIRE POLLING FOR THE TORIES

Camilla Tominey is nearly hysterical in The Telegraph this morning (HERE) writing breathlessly about how bad the Tories are going to do in the European elections (if we get to them) or in a general election (assuming Theresa May is having suicidal thoughts). The voters are apparently set to 'punish' the Conservative party for NOT delivering Brexit. Oddly, they are supposed to be in danger of losing 48 seats, while Labour, also guilty of not delivering Brexit, is set to gain 61 seats! Not sure how that works.

LEAVE - WRONGDOING FROM THE START

Facebook yesterday banned several far right extremist groups (HERE) and leaders 'because those involved had proclaimed a 'violent or hateful mission' and were 'Individuals and organisations who spread hate'. These included The English Defence League, Britain First and the BNP as well as The National Front.

MORE TROUBLE FOR AARON BANKS

Aaron Banks' troubles are beginning to pile up. The Open Democracy website (HERE) has got hold of hundreds of emails that seem to show he lied to Damian Collins' Select Committee about staff at his insurance companies not working for the Leave.eu campaign, the one that he financed. So, not only are the National Crime Agency investigating where the money came from, more questions are being asked about what are essentially undeclared donations in kind.

MORE ON BANKS AND THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION

The actual Electoral Commission statement issued yesterday on Aaron Banks is HERE. Any atheists who doubted the existence of God might now start to believe in Him. If Banks can be charged, convicted and imprisoned before March 29th 2019 it would surely go a long way to proving beyond doubt the existence of some omnipotent being looking down on us and slowly but surely hand cranking the wheels of justice.

OH FRABJOUS DAY - BANKS UNDER INVESTIGATION

What a frabjous day! Aaron Banks has been referred to the National Crime Agency by the Electoral Commission (HERE) for what is being described as "criminal offences" relating to money to fund the Leave.EU campaign. It couldn't happen to a nicer person. The commission's legal chief, Bob Posner, said: 

THE FACEBOOK ADS, BANKS AND THE RUSSIANS

Facebook have released the digital ads used during the campaign by Vote Leave, the DUP and BeLeave to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee (HERE). I wasn't on Facebook at the time and probably wouldn't have received the ads anyway so although I know Vote Leave targeted specific groups, I had no idea what potential voters were seeing. Looking at the messages now is absolutely shocking. There is barely a word of truth in any of them. 

AARON BANKS AND RUSSIAN MONEY?

I know there have been suggestions recently that the money Brexit's leading donor, Aaron Banks, gave or lent to the campaign may not have been his own so it is welcome that the Electoral Commission is going to investigate (HERE). There are people who think Russian money was behind Brexit and since it is now clear that the Kremlin has interfered in many recent elections most notably in the USA, France and Germany, it is perhaps surprising that they seem not to have been involved at all in Brexit.