Arron Banks 'takes lie detector test' in bid to prove he didn't accept Russian funding for Brexit campaign

Insurance millionaire Arron Banks bankrolled the campaign to leave the EU
PA Wire/PA Images
Tom Powell1 August 2018
WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Millionaire Leave.EU founder Arron Banks has apparently taken a lie detector test in a bid to prove he did not accept Russian funding for the Brexit campaign.

The man who bankrolled the campaign to leave the EU announced on Twitter he was taking a polygraph test following a slew of accusations.

The test, which is widely discredited and not admissible as evidence in UK courts, saw Mr Banks asked three times whether he accepted Russian funding for the Leave.EU campaign.

In the stunt he answered no to all three questions – each worded slightly differently – and each time the test suggested he was telling the truth, according to the Westmonster blog launched by Mr Banks.

It claimed the test found there was “no deception indicated”.

Mr Banks hailed his own success on Twitter, writing that he “passed with flying colours”, before calling on former Labour spin doctor and staunch Remainer Alastair Campbell to take one.

Mr Campbell, who had questioned the validity of the test, responded that five inquiries had investigated his time in Government under Tony Blair and he had been “cleared by all”.

Mr Banks responded: “I’m happy to replicate the test with an independently appointed expert perhaps you would like to join me.

“The public would love a few answers from you , Campbell...”

Insurance magnate Mr Banks has previously admitted to a parliamentary inquiry into fake news that he wasn’t averse to leading voters “up the garden path” over Brexit.

He and the organisation’s communications chief Andy Wigmore were grilled by MPs in June over the conduct of their campaign in the 2016 EU referendum.

Mr Banks said he had to use “alternative methods” to “punch home his message” because the Remain campaign was outspending them.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in