EU Referendum: Ukip donor Arron Banks “apologises” after celebs hit out at Leave.EU for taking comments out of context to boost Brexit campaign
Leave.EU co-chairman Arron Banks doesn't mince his words.
The Brexiteer extended his "heartfelt apologies" to everyone from the Electoral Commission to Victoria Beckham after campaigners were accused of taking statements out of context to persuade Britons to vote to leave the European Union.
"Leave.EU has upset quite a few people", said a statement seen by City A.M. on Monday. "So far, we have managed to clock eight impending cases."
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Leave.EU co-chairman Arron Banks apologised (not) to the Electoral Commission when the Ukip donor claimed it had "shut down" ill-fated Brexit concert Bpoplive earlier this month. Banks told the Commission: "Bite me", and accused it of being a "legal division of the In campaign".
The Electoral Commission declined to comment.
Banks also had harsh words for ex-England footballer Gary Lineker and former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham after the two celebrities complained that statements they made in the past about the Euro were taken out of context. Banks said: "bring it on, luvvies".
The Ukip donor sort-of apologised to Superdrug founder and Brexiteer Peter Goldstein after the firm was brought into association with Leave.EU. The group's statement insisted that Goldstein was quoted accurately, but "we did use your logo without permission. Sorry about that!"
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The pro-Brexit group has also backed down from a fight with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) after suggesting that British astronaut Tim Peake would vote Leave in last Thursday's referendum.
Banks, who switched from Tory to Ukip donor in 2014 handing the right-wing party £1m, apologised to NASA, but sounded upset that he wouldn't get a chance to take the matter to court. "NASA vs Leave.EU would have been quite exciting in court."
Responding to the statement, a Vote Leave source said: "We wish Arron well. An apology is a fitting way for him to end his time in politics."